Several journalists from the New York Times have been ordered to testify under oath before a federal grand jury, following their reports on alleged security vulnerabilities concerning President Donald Trump's new Air Force One aircraft. The legal summonses were delivered to reporters' homes, demanding their appearance in Manhattan to address potential violations of federal criminal law.
The US newspaper had published articles detailing claims that the aircraft, a Boeing 747-8 jet donated by the Qatari government last year, lacked adequate security features, including advanced anti-missile capabilities. This reportedly led the Secret Service to advise President Trump to switch to an older plane for his return journey from a NATO summit in Turkey, despite having flown the new jet there.
The US Justice Department (DoJ) has clarified that its investigation targets those responsible for leaking classified information, not the journalists themselves. However, David McCraw, the New York Times' top newsroom lawyer, labelled the subpoenas a "brazen act" and an attempt to stifle public knowledge by intimidating the press from performing its duties. He emphasised that the newspaper's journalists report facts and uphold the public's right to understand government operations.
The incident has sparked concerns about press freedom in the United States, with the US Constitution specifically protecting the ability of the press to report on matters of public interest. While sharing classified information is a crime, the DoJ's move against journalists for publishing such information has drawn significant criticism from media organisations.
The reports of security concerns emerged during a period of heightened international tensions, particularly with Iran, where the US was conducting strikes amid growing friction over a negotiated ceasefire deal. President Trump, when questioned about the plane's security, reportedly dismissed the concerns, stating, "I have a threat all the time. I'm No. 1 on their list." The new Air Force One, valued at approximately £300 million, was unveiled last month as an "unconditional" gift from Qatar, with the Air Force previously asserting that any potential threats from previously owned aircraft had been neutralised.