JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. — An inflatable emergency slide on the Qatari-gifted Air Force One deployed on the tarmac Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, before President Donald Trump boarded for the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas, delaying departure, according to CBS News, ABC News, and White House press-pool accounts.

The White House press pool reported the slide inflated from the right-hand front door — opposite the usual boarding door — and reached the ground. Trump remained aboard Marine One for roughly 20 minutes or more while the situation played out, ABC and pool reports said. The older Air Force One aircraft moved into position as a backup, CBS reported.

Workers eventually deflated and hauled the slide away. Departure was delayed about 15 to 20 minutes before the flight left for Dallas, according to pool and network reporting.

Trump told reporters they were “doing a check on the slide” and that “they want to make sure everything works perfectly.” Asked about a security concern, he said no. “Yeah, I am, or I wouldn’t be on it,” he told ABC when asked if the plane was safe to fly.

The jet — a Qatar-gifted Boeing later retrofitted for presidential use — has drawn prior scrutiny. CBS noted that in July, amid Iran-related security concerns after a Turkey summit, Trump used the older aircraft for part of that travel while the newer jet underwent further work.

Sources