Justice Department Withdraws Reporter Subpoenas Amid Air Force One Security Controversy
President Trump announced that the Qatari-donated jet serving as Air Force One will be taken out of service for security and defensive upgrades following scrutiny over whether it is adequately protected. Separately, the Justice Department withdrew subpoenas seeking testimony from three New York Times reporters who covered the plane's alleged security issues, after a federal judge criticized the government's legal work. Outlets varied in emphasis, with some focusing on the plane's technical upgrades and others on the press-freedom implications of the subpoena withdrawal.
President Donald Trump said on July 20, 2026, that the Qatari-donated jet serving as Air Force One will be taken out of service and
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Trump Says New Air Force One Will Be Taken Out of Service to Be ‘Maxed Out’
The Qatari-donated plane has been under scrutiny over whether it is fitted with sufficient defensive capabilities to adequately protect a U.S. president and others traveling on it.
Read original report ↗Trump administration admits legal errors and withdraws subpoenas of 3 NYT reporters
Criticized by a federal judge for sloppy legal work, the government on Thursday grudgingly withdrew subpoenas that would have compelled three New York Times reporters to testify about their sources for articles about President Donald Trump's Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet.
Read original report ↗DOJ withdraws subpoenas for New York Times reporters over Air Force One story
The Justice Department withdrew its subpoenas for New York Times reporters during a court heraing Thursday, after a judge grilled government lawyers for making "errors."
Read original report ↗Justice dept withdraws subpoenas over New York Times reports about Air Force One
The journalists covered alleged security issues with the president's new plane, gifted by Qatar.
Read original report ↗New Air Force One going out of commission to get safety upgrades
The new Air Force One is going out of commission to receive safety upgrades. What needs to be done and was it safe for President Trump to fly the plane to Turkey earlier this month?
Read original report ↗Trump: New Air Force One to be 'maxed out' with upgrades amid questions about security features
President Trump said late Sunday the Qatari-gifted jet serving as Air Force One will undergo upgrades, weeks after the Secret Service reportedly advised him not to use it for a trip back to the U.S. from Turkey. “It has a lot of capability. But as I understand it, in about a month or so, they’re...
Read original report ↗Trump says new Air Force One will be sent away for upgrades amid security concerns
President Trump said the Air Force One plane that was donated by Qatar will be sent away for upgrades amid swirling concerns about its security features.
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