The Trump administration issued subpoenas on Friday to several New York Times journalists after the newspaper's report on security concerns involving the new Air Force One aircraft. According to the New York Times, federal agents delivered some subpoenas to reporters at their homes, seeking to force testimony before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday. Before the Wednesday article was published, a senior Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) contacted the NYT asking for the article to be held for reasons of national security, speaking with a reporter and a senior editor, but declined to explain the security issue. The subpoenas were issued to journalists who reported on Trump's use of the old Air Force One on Wednesday, and on concerns over the jet's security on Thursday. The New York Times report could not be independently confirmed, and there was no immediate response from the White House or the Department of Justice. Top newsroom lawyer David McCraw stated, "The appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects." The journalists who received subpoenas included Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt.
The developments come after Trump flew the new Air Force One to a NATO summit in Turkey but departed Wednesday on one of the older-model Air Force One jets for a trip to Mildenhall, a Royal Air Force base in Suffolk, England. As reported by the New York Times, the two jets both flew to Mildenhall, with Trump then switching to the newer plane for the flight home to Joint Base Andrews. The newspaper reported on Wednesday that the switch was made at the urging of the Secret Service. The plane change came as a shaky ceasefire with Iran had collapsed, with the US launching airstrikes on Iran and Tehran attacking three Gulf Arab states. The new Boeing 747-8 aircraft, which was donated by Qatar and entered service last week, underwent a USD 400 million retrofit but lacked security features including advanced antimissile capabilities, according to multiple officials cited by the New York Times. Iran and Turkey share a border, prompting speculation that the Qatari-gifted jet did not have some of the more sophisticated security and countermeasure systems.
Two former Air Force officials involved in the effort to replace older Air Force One planes told the New York Times they were surprised by Trump's use of the new jet abroad. Former Air Force secretary Frank Kendall stated, "Time didn't permit all the normal Air Force One modifications, so some mix of security, communications and support is missing." Former Air Force assistant secretary Andrew P Hunter, who was in charge of the Air Force One program during the Biden administration, told the New York Times that a true retrofit of a 747 to prepare it for use as Air Force One would require over a year. The Air Force defended the decision, stating on June 19 that "No risk was taken in security, safety or mission communications," but acknowledged that "the collective team made trades on some of the less commonly used mission sets that Boeing must deliver to support the next 40 years."
Senate Democrats have strongly criticized Trump's decision to use the new jet, with Senator Christopher S. Murphy and 12 other senators writing in a letter that "Trump's own statements - including his celebration of 'a level of luxury that nobody's ever seen before' - make it clear that these decisions prioritized Trump's personal comfort and tastes over US national security." During the flight, Trump denied to reporters travelling with him that concerns involving Iran had led to two planes being used for the return journey. Asked if he was aware of any credible threats against Air Force One by Iran, Trump brushed off the question, saying "I have a threat all the time. I'm No. 1 on their list." The New York Times condemned the subpoena action, with top newsroom lawyer David McCraw stating, "The appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects."
Earlier this year, the Justice Department issued subpoenas seeking to compel testimony from reporters at The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, but later withdrew them in both cases. The latest move against New York Times journalists comes after the paper's reports on the new Air Force One, its security features and Trump's change of aircraft during his recent travel. The White House later denied there were any security shortcomings on the new plane, with spokesman Steven Cheung stating that the new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff. The administration is under increasing pressure to disclose details of the overhaul of the Qatari plane's security upgrades, with the aircraft's safety being critical for both the president and his entourage of White House staff, Secret Service officials, journalists and guests who fly aboard.
