Trump Issues Furious Subpoenas to NYT Reporters Who Criticized New Air Force One Security

NYT: "Threatening Reporters Is an Attempt to Restrict the Public's Right to Know"

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has issued subpoenas demanding that several reporters from The New York Times (NYT), a major U.S. daily, appear before a federal grand jury.

The new Air Force One, the dedicated aircraft for the President of the United States, features the presidential seal on the door where the President boards and a large American flag painted on the rear fuselage. The government of Qatar gifted it to U.S. President Donald Trump. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the NYT on July 11 (local time), subpoenas were issued to several reporters requiring them to testify before the federal grand jury in Manhattan, New York, this coming Wednesday. It was reported that federal agents personally visited the homes of some reporters to deliver the subpoenas.

This action came immediately after the NYT published a report this week on security issues regarding the new Air Force One, which President Trump received as a gift from Qatar. The subpoenas delivered to the reporters simply cited "violations of federal criminal law" without specifying any details.

Earlier, on July 8, President Trump announced via his social networking service (SNS) Truth Social that, after attending the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit and leaving Türkiye for the United Kingdom, he would use the old Air Force One instead of the new Air Force One (Boeing 747-8) received from Qatar. While Trump said the reason was "to reminisce old memories," the NYT reported that it was because the new Air Force One lacked proper countermeasures such as advanced missile defense capabilities. All related articles cited anonymous sources.

It is reported that Trump was infuriated by the coverage. Additionally, a senior official of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reportedly contacted NYT reporters and senior executives before the article was published, raising "national security concerns" and requesting that the report be held back as well as demanding information on the sources.

Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York who issued the subpoenas, is the person recently nominated by President Trump to serve as Director of National Intelligence (DNI). However, the Department of Justice emphasized regarding this investigation, "The reporters are not the targets," and clarified, "The targets are those who leak classified information."

However, David McCraw, Executive Vice President of the NYT, strongly criticized the move, saying, "The sight of federal law enforcement agents showing up at reporters' front doors will shock every American who believes in the Constitution and the freedom of the press it protects," and added, "This brazen act is nothing more than an attempt to intimidate journalists who have been reporting on government operations and the use of taxpayer money, thereby restricting the public's right to know."

The National Press Club (NPC) also issued a statement, pointing out, "Federal agents going to reporters' homes to deliver subpoenas is not standard law enforcement practice" and called it "a direct attack on press freedom, which is at the core of the First Amendment."

Meanwhile, earlier this year, the Department of Justice also attempted to issue subpoenas to reporters from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and The Washington Post (WP), but withdrew them all in response to strong legal challenges from the news organizations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.