DOJ demands phone from reporter’s mother after Trump Air Force One humiliation

Key Points:

• The Trump administration is demanding cell phone records from reporters' family members, including a reporter's mother, as part of an investigation into leaks about the Air Force One scandal, prompting The New York Times to request the subpoenas be quashed.
• The investigation, led by FBI Director Kash Patel and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, centers on reports that President Trump lied about why he did not use the new Air Force One plane gifted by Qatar, with concerns raised about the plane's lack of anti-missile defenses.
• The Justice Department's subpoenas include demands for phone records dating back to January 2026, which The Times argues indicate an overly broad and aggressive attempt to uncover confidential sources beyond the immediate leak.
• The Times criticized the DOJ for violating its own guidelines by delaying notification of the subpoenas and described the government's actions as an unorthodox effort to intimidate independent journalists.
• Following the controversy, the new Air Force One has been sidelined for further security upgrades, with no timeline announced, amid reports that Trump prioritized rushing retrofitting over safety concerns raised by Air Force generals and the Secret Service.