Emergency Slide Deploys, Delaying Trump's Departure

The new Air Force One was involved in more drama, albeit minor, on Wednesday. An emergency evacuation slide on Air Force One—the one that's a Qatar-gifted Boeing 747-8—deployed accidentally just before the president was to board for a flight to Dallas, where he is attending the first Republican midterm convention. Ground crews removed the slide, Reuters reports, and the departure was delayed only briefly. Asked by a reporter whether he was confident the plane was safe, Trump replied, "Yeah, I am, or I wouldn't be on it."

Although sources involved informed multiple news organizations that the deployment was accidental, Trump told reporters before boarding that it was all part of the plan. "They were doing a check on the slide, you know, in the emergency," he said, per CNN. He remained on Marine One for more than 20 minutes while the situation was resolved. The Air Force did not immediately comment on what triggered the deployment, per Reuters. The jumbo jet, which Trump began using July 1 after an accelerated refurbishment, typically carries a dozen inflatable slides. Trump has said the plane will undergo security upgrades for about two months starting in October. With the new Air Force One having fewer protections, Trump decided in July to switch back to the previous one when returning from Turkey.