A recent report by Politico has shed light on a concerning trend of petty theft occurring on Air Force One, the president's personal airplane. According to the report, White House correspondents have been surreptitiously taking souvenirs from the aircraft as a form of presidential memorabilia.
The article revealed that journalists traveling with the president have been helping themselves to items bearing the Air Force One insignia, ranging from whiskey tumblers to wine glasses. This practice, described as 'rampant thievery,' has become shockingly common among reporters and even some lawmakers traveling with the president.
Several instances were cited in the report, including a White House correspondent encouraging a fellow journalist to take items during their first flight on Air Force One, claiming that 'everyone does it.' Additionally, stories were shared of reporters hosting dinner parties using gold-rimmed Air Force One plates allegedly taken from the plane over time.
In response to the growing issue, the Air Force One crew has begun monitoring missing items more closely. Following an inventory check that revealed several missing items from the press cabin, the crew notified the White House Travel Office. Subsequently, a former White House official reached out to individuals who had taken items from the plane, offering a discreet way to return them.
While White House officials emphasized that they are not seeking to embarrass reporters, they stressed the importance of putting an end to the thefts. The incidents were characterized as a 'petty, chronic grift' rather than a massive amount of theft, with appreciation expressed for the seriousness with which the matter was addressed by the White House Correspondents' Association president.
