The Trump administration has issued subpoenas to several New York Times journalists following the publication of a report regarding security concerns surrounding US President Donald Trump’s new Air Force One. The newspaper reported that on Friday, the US Department of Justice sent subpoenas to some of its journalists, ordering them to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan in five days. This marks the latest move by the Trump administration to compel journalists to testify. According to The New York Times, federal agents visited the journalists’ homes to deliver the subpoenas in person. The online edition of The Guardian reported this, citing the Associated Press (AP).
In response to requests for comment regarding the subpoenas, the US Department of Justice stated that it is investigating a “breach of national security.” The statement added, “To be clear, journalists are not the targets of our investigation. The targets are those who leaked classified information.” The Justice Department further noted, “We will not disregard the law.”
Meanwhile, various organizations advocating for press freedom have condemned the subpoenas. The Washington-based National Press Club stated that the decision to subpoena The New York Times journalists is a cause for concern for every US citizen, as it threatens the constitutional rights of a free press.
The organization called on the Department of Justice to immediately withdraw the subpoenas, urging a reaffirmation of the long-standing US principle that a free press serves the public, not the government. Seth Stern, Advocacy Director at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, said in a separate statement that when the government claims investigating journalists is necessary to protect national security, it is actually seeking to protect its own reputation. He remarked that while the administration might be embarrassed by the security issues highlighted in the report, that does not diminish the necessity of a free press. David McCraw, a lawyer for The New York Times, stated that the presence of federal law enforcement at journalists’ doorsteps is an event that should trouble the conscience of any American who believes in the US Constitution and press freedom. Jennifer Griffin, Fox News’ chief national security correspondent—known as a Trump supporter—also agreed with the statements made by McCro and the National Press Club in a post on X. She wrote that the government’s move to subpoena journalists for publishing legitimate news regarding Air Force One’s security is a matter of concern for every American citizen.
The aircraft at the center of the controversy is a $400 million gift from Qatar. It flew President Trump to North Dakota for the first time on July 1. Later, it also transported Trump to Turkey for the NATO summit. However, on the return journey from Turkey to the United States, Trump traveled part of the way on an older model of Air Force One. At that time, the ceasefire with Iran had collapsed; Turkey shares a border with Iran, and the US and Israel had launched a war against Iran in late February.
Amid speculation that the new aircraft lacked necessary security measures, The New York Times—citing unnamed sources—reported that the new Air Force One lacked missile defense systems (anti-missile capabilities) and other critical defensive features found on the older planes. The report further stated that it was at the Secret Service’s request that Trump completed part of the return journey from Turkey on the older Air Force One.
Trump’s Denial
Trump, however, denied any concerns regarding security. He told accompanying journalists that security reasons played no part in the decision not to fly the entire return journey on the new Air Force One. When asked if Iran had posed any credible threat to Air Force One, Trump replied, “I am always under threat. I am number one on their list.”
The White House also denied any security deficiencies regarding the new Air Force One, describing the aircraft as “state-of-the-art.” White House spokesperson Steven Cheung stated that the new Air Force One is equipped with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his entourage.
He further claimed that the decision for Trump not to fly the entire return journey from Turkey on the new Air Force One was a deceptive tactic intended to avoid potential threats. FBI Request and Subpoena
The New York Times reported that prior to the publication of the story, a senior FBI official contacted the newspaper and requested that the report not be published, citing national security concerns; however, the official did not provide specific reasons. Following the report’s publication, New York Times journalists Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Taylor Pager, and Eric Schmitt received subpoenas to testify before a grand jury. The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) and the NewsGuild of New York—a labor union representing journalists in New York—have expressed their support for the journalists. WHCA President Weijia Jiang stated, “Our organization condemns any attempt to intimidate journalists or pressure them to reveal their sources.”
Previous Summons Issued to Journalists
A report published last June revealed that the Department of Justice had issued subpoenas to journalists from The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post as part of an investigation into the leak of national security information. However, the Department of Justice withdrew the subpoenas after the respective media outlets objected by submitting confidential documents to the court. In the United States, a grand jury is a legal process through which prosecutors can decide whether to bring criminal charges.
Throughout both of Donald Trump’s terms in office, allegations arose that his administration took action against various media outlets, journalists, and media-related organizations. A recent, high-profile example involves the attempt to bring criminal charges against journalist Don Lemon, Georgia Fort, and photographer June Bollman for covering a protest in January—where an officer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was surrounded—at a church in Minnesota.
Additionally, last January, a federal grand jury in Maryland indicted a U.S. military contractor on charges of leaking classified documents. As part of that investigation, the FBI also searched the home of a Washington Post journalist.
