Trump subpoenas New York Times reporters over Air Force One security report

Washington,UPDATED: Jul 11, 2026 18:22 IST

The Trump administration has subpoenaed several New York Times journalists after the newspaper reported on security concerns involving the new Air Force One, according to the paper. The aircraft, which US President Donald Trump received as a gift from Qatar, entered service last week.

The subpoenas, issued on Friday, seek to compel the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday, the newspaper said. It added that federal agents delivered some of the subpoenas to the journalists at their homes. There was no immediate response from the White House or the Department of Justice to requests for comment on Saturday.

David McCraw, a lawyer for the Times, said in a statement: "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 the subpoenas included Julian E Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt, the paper reported.

Trump flew the new Air Force One to a NATO summit in Turkey this week. But he left on Wednesday for Mildenhall, a Royal Air Force base in Suffolk, England, on one of the older Air Force One jets. The newer plane also flew to Mildenhall, and Trump then switched to it for the flight home to Joint Base Andrews.

The plane swap came as a shaky ceasefire with Iran had collapsed, with the US launching airstrikes on Iran and Tehran attacking three Gulf Arab states. Iran and Turkey share a border, leading to speculation that the Qatari-gifted jet, which underwent a USD 400 million retrofit, did not have certain advanced security and countermeasure systems. The newspaper, citing anonymous sources, reported that the change was made at the urging of the Secret Service and that the newer plane lacked some of the advanced security features of the older aircraft, including antimissile capabilities.

Trump denied there were any security concerns. He said on social media that the stop in Mildenhall was so service members there could view the new jet. During the flight, he also told reporters travelling with him that security concerns involving Iran were not a factor in flying two planes home. Asked if he was aware of any credible threats against Air Force One by Iran, Trump said, "I have a threat all the time. I'm No. 1 on their list."

The White House later denied any security shortcomings on the new aircraft. Spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement: "The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff." He added, "As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal - including distraction and misdirection - to address those threats."

Earlier this year, the Justice Department issued subpoenas seeking testimony from reporters at The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. In both cases, the department later withdrew the subpoenas. The latest move against New York Times journalists follows the paper's report on the security features of the new Air Force One and the circumstances in which Trump used the aircraft this week.

With PTI Inputs

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