Trump Administration Subpoenas NYT Reporters Over Air Force One Security Report

The Trump administration has issued subpoenas to multiple New York Times journalists following a report suggesting President Trump switched from the newly refurbished Air Force One during a NATO trip due to security concerns.

The Trump administration has subpoenaed several New York Times journalists after the newspaper published a report claiming President Donald Trump switched from the newly refurbished Air Force One during his recent NATO trip to Turkey because of security concerns.

The subpoenas, issued on Friday by the office of US Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York, order the reporters to appear before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday as part of an investigation into an alleged violation of federal criminal law.

The move follows the publication of a report examining the security capabilities of the newly modified Boeing 747-8, which was gifted by Qatar and recently entered service as Air Force One. The report cited concerns from lawmakers over whether the aircraft had been fully equipped with advanced missile defence systems and other critical security upgrades before being put into service.

According to the newspaper, the US Secret Service had recommended that Trump switch aircraft during the trip as a precaution.

The aircraft made its international debut during the NATO summit in Ankara. However, after arriving in Turkey aboard the new jet, Trump returned to the United States on one of the older presidential Boeing 747s, saying the newer aircraft would remain in Europe temporarily so US troops stationed there could view it. He later rejoined the new aircraft at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom for the final leg of his journey home.

The administration did not directly deny the newspaper’s account but said it routinely relies on “distraction and misdirection” to protect the president against security threats.

During the NATO summit, Trump also stated that he was at the top of Iran’s “kill list”, underscoring heightened security concerns surrounding his overseas travel.

The New York Times strongly criticised the subpoenas, describing them as an attack on press freedom and warning that compelling journalists to testify about their reporting would have a chilling effect on investigative journalism.

The subpoenas mark the latest effort by the Trump administration to pursue leaks of sensitive government information. Earlier this year, federal investigators searched the home of a Washington Post reporter as part of a separate investigation into alleged unauthorised disclosures involving a government contractor.

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