In a major scandal that has stirred controversy in Washington, alarming truths have emerged about the widespread phenomenon of journalists stealing items from the press cabin aboard Air Force One, the U.S. presidential aircraft. It has come to light that dozens of journalists who typically accompany President Joe Biden and other former presidents on international trips have quietly "stuffed their bags before disembarking the plane with anything that caught their eye, from whiskey cups adorned with engravings to wine glasses and almost anything bearing the Air Force One logo," according to Politico.
The presidential plane's crew usually distributes small bags of chocolates bearing the presidential seal and the president's signature. Items like cups and other utensils featuring the Air Force One emblem are available for purchase online. However, this does not seem sufficient for many of the reporters traveling on the presidential aircraft, as they carried off numerous items that caught their eye, much like children or teenagers might do in restaurants or luxury hotels.
The situation escalated to the point where a former White House correspondent for a major newspaper organized a dinner where food was served on a collection of gold-rimmed plates that had been stolen from Air Force One over time, according to Politico. This may have prompted the White House Correspondents' Association to send an email last month to its members, warning them that keeping missing items from the press room as souvenirs has not gone unnoticed. Yet, only one journalist responded to this admonishment, arranging a discreet meeting with an official media representative in a park across from the White House to return a stolen embroidered pillow that he had taken from the cabin on the presidential plane.
It is notable that 13 journalists typically accompany the U.S. president on trips, sitting in a compartment at the back of the presidential Boeing. The media outlets cover their travel expenses, which includes meals and beverages served to them aboard the aircraft.