The Trump administration has moved to subpoena multiple New York Times journalists following the newspaper’s recent coverage regarding security concerns associated with the president’s new presidential jet. The outlet said journalists were subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury after the story detailed security concerns with the Qatar-gifted plane. The aircraft, a $400m gift from Qatar, made its maiden voyage on July 1 when it transported Donald Trump to North Dakota, and it was also utilized for the president’s travel to a Nato summit in Turkey.
Following reports that the new aircraft lacked essential protective features, including antimissile capabilities found on older models, the Times cited anonymous sources to detail these security shortcomings. The newspaper further reported that the Secret Service requested the president utilize an older-model Air Force One for part of his return flight from Turkey, a period marked by the collapse of a ceasefire with Iran. When asked about potential threats from Iran, the president remarked, “I have a threat all the time. I’m number one on their list.”
The White House has refuted claims that the new jet is insecure, with spokesperson Steven Cheung describing the aircraft as “state-of-the-art” and equipped with high-level security protocols. Cheung characterized the decision to switch planes during the return trip as a “misdirection” tactic against potential threats. The Times noted that prior to publication, a senior FBI official had contacted the news organization to request the story be withheld for national security reasons, though no specific details were provided.
In response to the subpoenas, a US Justice Department statement asserted that the investigation is focused on “breaches of national security” rather than the reporters themselves. “We are not going to ignore the law and stop investigating the people who work in the administration and think it’s OK to leak classified information impacting national security,” the statement read. Among those subpoenaed for grand jury testimony are journalists Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from press freedom advocates. Meanwhile, press freedom advocates condemned the subpoenas. The Washington DC-based National Press Club condemned the action, stating that the decision to target journalists “threatens the public’s constitutional right to an independent press.” Seth Stern, director of advocacy for the Freedom of the Press Foundation, argued that the government is prioritizing “reputational security” over the necessity of a free press. David McCraw, a lawyer for the Times, added that the presence of federal law enforcement at the doorsteps of journalists should “shock the conscience of any American.”
This development follows similar attempts by the Justice Department earlier in June to subpoena reporters from the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, though those efforts were withdrawn after the outlets contested them in court. The administration’s recent history also includes the pursuit of criminal charges against journalists Don Lemon, Georgia Fort, and photographer Junn Bollman regarding their coverage of a protest in Minnesota, as well as an FBI raid on a Washington Post reporter’s home following an indictment of a military contractor in Maryland. “The National Press Club calls on the justice department to immediately withdraw these subpoenas and reaffirm a principle that has long distinguished the United States: a free and independent press serves the people, not the government,” the organization continued.
