Chicago – July 12, 2026
The Trump administration has subpoenaed four journalists from The New York Times in connection with their reporting on security concerns surrounding the president’s newly retrofitted Air Force One, a Boeing 747 donated by Qatar. The subpoenas, issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, require the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury as part of an investigation into the alleged disclosure of classified information.
The articles reported that the new aircraft lacked some of the advanced defensive systems installed on the older presidential jet, prompting President Donald Trump to return from a recent NATO summit aboard the previous Air Force One. The administration has denied that the aircraft posed a security risk and says the investigation targets unauthorized leaks, not journalists.
The newspaper condemned the subpoenas as an attack on press freedom, while media advocacy groups warned the move could have a chilling effect on investigative journalism and the protection of confidential sources.
