The US Department of Justice issued subpoenas to several New York Times journalists to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan concerning their reporting on security concerns about President Trump's new Qatari-donated Air Force One [1, 2, 3]. The subpoenas were signed by Jay Clayton, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and some were personally delivered to reporters at their homes by federal agents [3, 4, 5]. The journalists named include Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt [6, 7, 8].
The reporters have been ordered to appear before the grand jury on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, to provide testimony related to classified information leaks about the president's plane [1, 9]. The Justice Department stressed that the reporters are not targets, but investigators are pursuing illegal disclosures of national security information [1, 3].
The New Air Force One, donated by Qatar and valued at approximately $400 million after US retrofits and upgrades, has raised questions about its security features. Reporting revealed the plane lacks advanced protections such as antimissile capabilities that older planes have [2, 6, 7]. President Trump recently flew to the NATO summit in Turkey on the new aircraft but returned aboard the older Air Force One jet following recommendations from the Secret Service due to security concerns [3, 10]. Trump denied any security issues with the new plane, stating the switch was "for old time's sake" and to allow US troops stationed at RAF Mildenhall in England to tour the new plane [2, 11].
Trump has acknowledged facing constant threats, noting, "I'm No. 1 on their list," referencing ongoing tensions with Iran, a neighbor of Turkey, where the NATO summit was held. His administration and Israel have been involved in conflict with Iran since February 2026 [10, 7].
The subpoenas have sparked sharp criticism from press freedom advocates. David McCraw, the Times’ lawyer, said, "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" [1, 11]. The National Press Club warned, "When federal agents arrive at the homes of journalists with subpoenas, it is not ordinary law enforcement. It is an extraordinary assault on the freedom of the press that strikes at the heart of the First Amendment" [10]. Bruce D. Brown of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press added that "Trump's war on the press is looking for another victim" [12].
Earlier this year, the Justice Department had subpoenaed reporters from the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal over similar issues but later withdrew those subpoenas [6, 7]. The White House Communications Director, Steven Cheung, defended the plane’s security, saying it is "an advanced aircraft with high-standard security protocols," and stressed the importance of vigilance given threats facing the president [6].
The new Air Force One first flew on July 1, 2026, when it carried Trump to North Dakota. The NATO summit flight to Turkey on July 8 was its first major overseas trip, followed by the subpoena issuance starting July 10 and public disclosure on July 11 [2, 3, 5]. The subpoenaed journalists are due to testify on July 15 before the federal grand jury in Manhattan [1].
