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The editorial board of The Washington Postbecame part of the Wall Street Journal on Monday evening in condemningPresident Donald Trump’s proposal to essentially take over Spirit Airlines through a $500 billion financial assistance package in return for an equity ownership of up to 90 percent — and cautioned that this move towards “socialism” might encourage other airlines to seek similar support.

Spirit Airlines has been hovering near collapse for years, experiencing several bankruptcies, and now confronting a critical challenge due to the Trump administration’s conflict in Iran, which has led to a sharp increase in jet fuel costs.

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“As Spirit Airlines heads toward bankruptcy, discussions are taking place for the government to acquire up to a 90 percent share in the airline in return for a $500 million rescue package,” stated the board, whichunder the guidance of billionaire owner Jeff Bezoshas adopted a significantly more business-friendly approach in recent months. “The United States doesn’t require an Amtrak or U.S. Postal Service for air travel. Spirit’s collapse does not present a systemic threat to the aviation sector, and the administration should not be involved in selecting winners and losers within a competitive industry.”

The rescue package for Spirit, as the board mentioned, is prompting other airlines facing financial difficulties to also request bailouts rather than restructure their issues: “Low-cost carriers like Frontier and Avelo are now officially seeking $2.5 billion in return for warrants that the government could convert into ownership shares.”

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Creditors of Spirit were aware of the situation after the airline declared bankruptcy in 2024 — before Donald Trump regained the presidency. They took significant risks in pursuit of substantial returns, while being aware that they might not recover their funds,” the board added. “The company also made poor business choices, such as entering into an agreement with its flight attendants’ union in 2023 that raised wages by over 40 percent within two years.

In the end, the board stated, “Spending any taxpayer funds on Spirit, Frontier, or Avelo would only delay the unavoidable.”