Donald Trump's travel to the Republican National Midterm Convention in Maryland was delayed when an emergency inflatable slide was deployed from Air Force One. Trump stated to reporters after exiting his Marine One helicopter that the deployment was part of a routine check, which he estimated would take about 15 minutes to ensure the slide's functionality.
Photos taken by reporters showed Air Force One stalled on the runway, raising questions among onlookers, particularly in light of a previous incident where the President was smuggled off the plane in a catering container due to a credible assassination threat from Iran. A journalist noted the unusual circumstances surrounding Trump's departure, mentioning that Marine One had landed over 10 minutes prior without anyone exiting.
When asked about the safety of the plane, Trump responded affirmatively, stating, "Yeah. I am.. or I wouldn't be on it." After addressing the press for an extended period while the slide issue was resolved, Trump was able to board Air Force One as cameras continued to capture the moment. Reports indicated that Trump remained inside Marine One for some time after landing, with the helicopter door closed. Meanwhile, the older blue-and-white Air Force One was positioned behind the new Qatari-gifted jet, and shortly thereafter, the inflatable emergency slide was deployed from the front door on the right-hand side of the aircraft.