Did Trump allow Nelson Mandela to use his plane for free?

Former President Donald Trump was asked Friday about the time in 1990 when he flew the late South African President Nelson Mandela and 80 others to the United States

“The United States government did not help him. Nobody helped him,” Fox News contributor George “Tyrus” Murdoch told Trump during an interview Friday on his show on the streaming platform OutKick.

“They chartered a 727 aircraft for the entire trip,” Murdoch continued. “How is someone… Why is it hard for you to talk about the things you’ve done? Why don’t we know these things?”

“I just like helping people,” Trump replied. “I help a lot of people and I enjoy it and I never talk about it so it’s nice that you bring it up.”

Trump helped fly Mandela, the revered anti-apartheid activist, to the United States in the summer of 1990 Los Angeles Times He reportedly charged the trip’s organizers $130,000 to charter the plane.

Mandela had come to the United States as part of an eight-city tour and, according to the newspaper, he arrived in Washington, D.C. by plane and used the same plane for the remainder of the tour.

The Just also reported that Mandela initially asked Trump if he could rent the real estate mogul’s private jet. Trump told Mandela that the jet was unavailable because it was undergoing maintenance, and then offered Mandela a Trump Shuttle 727 aircraft.

The Washington Post Glenn Kessler also provided additional context for the story Friday after Trump’s interview with Tyrus aired.

“The Trump Shuttle was in financial trouble because Trump made a bad deal and ended up with too many 727s,” Kessler wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “He had already put the airline up for sale and would soon lose control of it to the banks. He did not offer to own a plane, but instead charged Mandela $130,000 for the loan of one of his unused jets.”

Murdoch praised Trump during their conversation on Friday, telling the former president: “I’m voting for you now because of the man you are, not because of the politics, because not every American is going to get the opportunity that I had.” [see] who you were backstage.

“I see,” Tire said. “You are humble. Because you’re a father first and foremost.”

Newsweek emailed the Trump campaign on Friday seeking comment.