Justice Department subpoenas New York Times journalists over Air Force One reporting

The U.S. Department of Justice has issued subpoenas to journalists at The New York Times who reported on the new Air Force One, a move that escalates President Donald Trump's ongoing conflict with the media.

The subpoenas target reporters who wrote about security concerns surrounding the aircraft, which was a gift from Qatar. The New York Times reported that the subpoenas aim to compel journalists to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan next week. Federal agents reportedly delivered some of the subpoenas to the journalists' homes.

This action follows a meeting at the White House between FBI Director Kash Patel and other Justice Department officials to discuss the matter. The new Air Force One, which entered service last week, is a modernized version of the presidential aircraft, with the government spending $400 million on its upgrades. Trump himself used an older Air Force One model for his recent travel from the NATO summit in Turkey.

The new plane has already been a source of controversy due to its acceptance as a gift from Qatar, raising ethical and security questions. The journalists who received subpoenas include Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt. David McCraw, an attorney for The New York Times, condemned the action, stating, "The presence of federal agents at the doorsteps of news reporters should scandalize any American who believes in the Constitution and the freedom of the press that it protects."

Bruce D. Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, characterized Trump's "war against the press" as seeking "another victim." The Justice Department, however, stated that "to be clear, reporters are not the targets, those who leak classified information are." The report notes that Trump referenced Iranian threats against him during his recent travel.