Trump administration subpoenas NYT journalists over Air Force One report

The Trump administration has issued subpoenas to several journalists at The New York Times following the newspaper's reporting on security concerns surrounding President Donald Trump's new Qatari-donated Air Force One aircraft.

The subpoenas, issued on July 10, require the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on July 15 as part of an investigation into what the documents describe only as "an alleged violation of federal criminal law," the newspaper reports. 

In some cases, federal agents personally delivered the subpoenas to the journalists' homes.

The newspaper condemned the move, describing it as an escalation in the administration's actions toward the media.

"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," David McCraw, the newspaper's senior newsroom lawyer, said in a statement.

The subpoenas were issued days after The New York Times published reports on July 8 and July 9 concerning the president's use of Air Force One. One article reported that Trump departed Türkiye aboard the older presidential aircraft as a security precaution at the recommendation of the U.S. Secret Service. A subsequent report said the new Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar lacked some of the advanced security features of the older aircraft, including anti-missile capabilities. Both reports cited anonymous sources familiar with sensitive security matters.

According to the newspaper, a senior official at the Federal Bureau of Investigation contacted The New York Times before publication of the July 9 article and requested that it be withheld, citing national security concerns.

The journalists who received subpoenas include Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt.

The latest development comes after Trump filed a lawsuit against The New York Times last year, alleging the newspaper had defamed him, damaged his reputation and sought to undermine his 2024 presidential campaign.

By Sabina Mammadli