Air Force One Souvenir Scandal Rocks Journalists: Inside the Controversy
Watan-A scandal involving the looting of belongings from the journalists’ room aboard President Biden’s Air Force One has caused a stir in Washington. A report released on Friday revealed the growing trend among journalists and others of stealing items originally sold as souvenirs on the White House’s online store.
According to Politico, for years, dozens of journalists and others quietly stuffed their bags with everything from whiskey tumblers adorned with engravings to wine glasses and almost anything bearing the Air Force One insignia before disembarking from the plane.
However, last month, the White House Correspondents’ Association sent an email warning its members sternly that journalists keeping missing items from the press room as souvenirs did not go unnoticed.
Typically, 13 journalists accompany the U.S. president during his travels, sitting in a cabin at the rear of the presidential aircraft. Media outlets cover the journalists’ travel expenses, including meals and beverages served onboard.
Scandal on Biden’s Plane
The crew only distributes small bags of “M&M’s” chocolates bearing the presidential seal and the signature of the U.S. president. Cups and other utensils bearing the “Air Force One” logo are available for purchase through the White House’s online gift shop.
However, this seems insufficient for many journalists traveling aboard the presidential aircraft. Reportedly, the sounds of clattering dishes and glassware hitting each other inside journalists’ backpacks were described in Politico’s report as they disembarked from the plane.
According to the report, a former White House correspondent for a major newspaper hosted a dinner party where food was served on a set of gold-rimmed plates stolen from the presidential plane and collected over time.
At least one journalist responded to the White House Correspondents’ Association’s reprimand. A “secret” meeting was arranged between them and an official media handler in a park near the White House to return an embroidered pillow he had taken from the journalists’ room aboard Air Force One.
