White House Leak Probe Targets Officials Over Air Force One Security Disclosure

The Trump administration launched an aggressive internal leak investigation after the New York Times reported that a Qatari‑donated Boeing 747 intended to replace Air Force One had security shortcomings. President Donald Trump abandoned the new aircraft at the NATO summit in Turkey and returned to the older Air Force One, citing a security precaution.

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and FBI Director Kash Patel set up a “war room” in the West Wing, ordering senior officials to surrender their cell phones and issuing subpoenas to four New York Times reporters who covered the story. Some officials complied, while others resisted, and the Justice Department is pursuing the case as press‑freedom advocates prepare to challenge the subpoenas in court.