The Trump administration subpoenaed four New York Times journalists on Friday over their reporting on security concerns with the president’s new Qatari-gifted Air Force One, according to the Times, marking an escalation in pressure on the press.
The subpoenas were issued by Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and sought to compel Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan. The journalists had reported on Wednesday that the Boeing 747-8 aircraft, donated by Qatar, lacked some of the advanced security features and defensive countermeasures of the previous Air Force One, according to NPR and multiple news outlets.
The subpoenas contained few specifics, asking only that the journalists testify “in regard to an alleged violation of federal criminal law,” according to the New York Times. In some cases, federal agents delivered the subpoenas to reporters’ homes, according to Al Jazeera. The journalists were not identified as targets of the investigation, according to reporting from Reason Magazine, though subpoenas can still have a chilling effect on journalism.
The reporting that prompted the subpoenas detailed that the new Air Force One lacked defensive countermeasures compared to the older aircraft, creating potential risks in its use, according to the New York Times. The Times also reported that the Secret Service had urged Trump to use a different plane during recent international travel, citing security concerns related to Iran.
Press freedom groups swiftly condemned the move. The Committee to Protect Journalists said the subpoenas raise serious concerns about press freedom and constitutional rights. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press warned that subpoenas targeting journalists can deter reporting vital to democracy. Politico reported that press advocacy groups panned the federal government’s action on Friday.
The subpoenas follow a pattern of increased pressure on journalists during the Trump administration. In May 2026, the Trump administration had weakened internal Justice Department guidelines intended to protect journalists from investigative tools, according to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. The Knight First Amendment Institute noted that subpoenas targeting journalists can deter reporting essential to democracy.
Sources
- The New York Times — reported the four journalists subpoenaed, their names, the issuing authority (Jay Clayton), the grand jury location and timing, and details of the Air Force One reporting
- NPR — confirmed the four journalists’ names and the Air Force One reporting details
- Al Jazeera — reported that subpoenas were delivered to reporters’ homes by federal agents
- Reason Magazine — reported that journalists are not targets of the investigation
- Committee to Protect Journalists — provided statement condemning the subpoenas and citing press freedom concerns
- Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press — reported on the weakened DOJ guidelines and press freedom implications
- Politico — reported press advocacy group criticism of the subpoenas
- The Guardian — confirmed the grand jury subpoenas and Qatar-gifted plane details
