Something went wrong on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews this Wednesday. Military personnel accidentally triggered the emergency slide on President Trump's new plane. The slide inflated right before he was set to board.
Trump stayed on Marine One for roughly 20 minutes while crews fixed the issue. The new jet, a gift from Qatar, sat on the ground with its slide fully extended. The delay pushed his arrival in Dallas back by a couple of hours. He was headed to a sold-out GOP midterm convention, according to NBC News.
When Trump finally walked out onto the tarmac, he told reporters it was just a test. He explained that staff wanted to ensure the equipment worked perfectly. He chuckled when asked if the plane was safe. "Yeah, I am or I wouldn't be on it," he told the press pool, per Fox News.
White House officials backed up his story later. According to reports, the communications director, the slide was examined to ensure flawless operation. He noted the plane was on its way to Dallas for his speech. The older blue-and-white Air Force One was even moved nearby as a backup, according to reports. Its stairs were deployed just in case.
This incident happens while people have asked about the new plane's security. The jet was donated by Qatar in 2025, per the Washington Examiner. It replaced the aging fleet after being modified for presidential use. But concerns swirled in July after the Secret Service suggested using the old plane instead.
Back then, Trump switched planes quietly after a threat from Iran. To board another military aircraft, he exited a NATO meeting in Turkey inside a catering truck. That event, reported by the Daily Wire, made some nervous about the new jet. Yet the White House insists the new aircraft has high-level security protocols. They say it is a state-of-the-art aircraft that ensures safety.
The slide was removed, and the President boarded the new aircraft without further trouble. Safe arrival occurred in Dallas at approximately 5:15 p.m. ET. Reporters watched the slide stay extended as they boarded but saw no one go down it. The delay was temporary, but the image of the slide sticking out remains. It shows that even the President's plane needs checks.
