The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued subpoenas on July 11, 2026, to several New York Times reporters following their article that reported President Donald Trump's new Air Force One was not retrofitted with adequate security measures. The article speculated on Trump's departure from the NATO summit in Turkey aboard an older aircraft instead of the newer plane provided by Qatar. The White House responded with subpoenas for the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan.
The New York Times condemned the subpoenas, describing them as an attempt to intimidate journalists and prevent public awareness of governmental actions. David McCraw, an attorney for the New York Times, stated that the presence of federal agents at journalists' homes should concern anyone who values constitutional press freedoms.
The reporting by Tyler Pager, Julian E. Barnes, Eric Schmitt, and Eric Lipton indicated that the new Air Force One, while upgraded for security, may not have all the features of the older aircraft, which includes advanced missile defense systems. Trump did not directly address questions about potential threats from Iran when asked about his choice of aircraft. White House communications director Steven Cheung defended the new aircraft, stating it is equipped with high-level security protocols to ensure the President's safety.