New York Times reporters are subpoenaed after Air Force One stories, raising press freedom concerns

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Justice has subpoenaed New York Times journalists after they reported on security concerns involving the new, Qatari-gifted Air Force One, marking a dramatic escalation of President Donald Trump’s campaign against the media that has drawn condemnation for eroding a fundamental freedom of American democracy.

The new jet, a present from the U.S. ally that the administration spent $400 million on to retrofit and upgrade, entered service last week. But Trump used an older model Air Force One jet to leave a NATO summit in Turkey and later referenced threats against him made by Iran.

The subpoenas seek to force the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan next week, the Times said, adding that federal agents delivered some subpoenas to the reporters at their homes. The subpoenas were issued after FBI Director Kash Patel and other Justice Department officials met at the White House on Friday to talk about the matter, according to a person familiar with the discussions who was not authorized to discuss the issue publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The Times journalists who received subpoenas included Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt, the Times reported.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/new-york-times-reporters-are-subpoenaed-after-air-force-one-stories-raising-press-freedom-concerns/ar-AA27Gn5D

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. Trump administration subpoenas New York Times journalists who reported security concerns around new Air Force One

trump's feelings were hurt when NO ONE bought his lame story as to why he flew back in the older Air Force One. trump was told that it would take years to get the Qatari grift plane ready but did not want to wait.

Link to tweet

https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/11/politics/new-york-times-trump-subpoenas-journalists

Four New York Times journalists who reported on security concerns surrounding a Qatari-gifted jet serving as the new Air Force One have been subpoenaed by the Justice Department, the news outlet reported early Saturday.....

The subpoenas suggest the Trump administration is trying to find out who leaked to The Times before the news organization reported this week that President Donald Trump left a NATO summit in Turkey on the old Air Force One over security concerns from the Secret Service.

The orders for the journalists to testify came after FBI Director Kash Patel met with officials at the White House on Friday to discuss the bureau’s investigation into disclosures about security concerns with the new plane, sources familiar with the matter told CNN.....

Sources told CNN that Trump has been fuming at the reports of security concerns surrounding the $400 million gift from Qatar, and was embarrassed and angry in recent days when it became public that the plane was not equipped enough to be flown directly from Turkey back home......

But CNN reported Thursday that security personnel felt more comfortable with the president aboard the older Air Force One — which was built from scratch with presidential safety in mind — rather than the plane that had recently been retrofitted after it was donated by Qatar.

Trump then switched planes at a secure US airbase in the UK. He downplayed the idea security was the reason for the switch, though sources have told CNN and other outlets that it was.