(NewsNation) — I have been living a life of planes, trains and automobiles the last few years, so I’d like to think I know a thing or two about traveling.
But never in my wildest dreams did I think I would fly on Air Force One with the president of the United States.
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If you’re like me, Air Force One has been a source of allure and mystery. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what the inside is like, how spacious it is or the amenities it offers. Even the simplest of things like “What color are the carpets?” gave me intrigue.
This past weekend, President Trump left Washington, D.C., to spend the weekend in Palm Beach, Florida, and NewsNation was included in the official “travel pool” to accompany him. The pool consists of journalists from a variety of outlets and mediums who travel with the president, serving as the effective “eyes and ears” of the White House Press Corps.
Where he goes, what he does, who joins him: all details not to be omitted in our “pool reports” to countless journalists in D.C. relying on our notes to understand what is happening with the 47th president while he’s away from Washington.
The outlets that came along for this trip included television networks, print publications, photographers and radio reporters. Every medium must be covered, and every detail (or at least those “on the record”) captured.
The pool works in tandem with the White House itself to make sure we are in the right places at the right time and, perhaps more importantly, to ensure we don’t get left behind. As you can imagine, the 47th President moves fast even while away from the office. Holding up the person who holds the highest office in the land is not an option.
We showed up to Joint Base Andrews about two hours before our scheduled takeoff and waited patiently for the next step. When the White House staffer arrived to take us out to our flight, there was no ambling or dillydallying. When they tell you it’s time to go, it means now.
We stepped through the sliding glass doors, and there on the tarmac sat Air Force One — a monstrosity that dwarfs even the most impressive of private jets.
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We stood underneath the wing of the plane waiting for the president to arrive on Air Force One. There’s always the possibility he gives a quick comment to reporters before boarding the plane, but this go around, no such luck. The president had spoken at multiple press availabilities throughout the day and hastily made his way aboard.
Shortly thereafter, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, chief of staff Susie Wiles and the man who has become one of the President’s closest advisers, tech CEO Elon Musk, all followed. Once they were on the plane through the forward entry, we made our way to the rear ladder and boarded ourselves.
It’s important to note that unless an official comes to the Press Cabin, everything is off the record. That means photographs are not permitted, which is why they aren’t in this article.
(Photo: Jordan Clifford of NewsNation)
The Press Cabin itself has everything you could dream of as a traveler: brown leather upholstery, ample leg room and a snack bar filled with a variety of sweets and candies to suit your fancy. A 2-by-2 seating arrangement nestled atop spotless beige carpeting, just over a dozen members of the press could fit in this section. Each seat was assigned by a card with the traveler’s name on it. Mine read: “Mr. Sherman, welcome aboard Air Force One.” The lavatory, clean and spacious, had an array of lotions, soaps and toothbrushes all held in a box bearing the presidential seal.
In a matter of moments, our plane taxied to the runway and zipped off into the air. Of course, presidents don’t have to wait in line for takeoff like the rest of us do.
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Shortly after zipping into the air, a pair of flight attendants came back to introduce us to the menu for the evening. Our dinner to Palm Beach featured steak with fettuccine alfredo, salad and cheesecake — each served on a white plate with golden edges that had the words “Air Force One” etched into them.
On our way back to Washington, we were greeted by lobster tacos and chocolate. By now, I’m sure you’re feeling much sympathy for me.
I paired each entree with a soft drink that came garnished with a lime and served in a rocks glass also bearing the presidential seal. Even the paper napkins, haphazardly used to wipe up condensation and spillage, were priceless to my civilian gaze: “Aboard the Presidential Plane” the printed words read, situated beneath (what else?) the seal of the president.
Once we landed, it was a mad dash down to the tarmac to catch a glimpse of the president as he deplaned before being rushed into a series of vans meant to follow the motorcade. The motorcade made its way to Mar-a-Lago, and the president retired for the night. Our day was done, and it was immediately off to bed to get ahead of the president’s early start.
(Photo: Jordan Clifford of NewsNation)
Saturday and Sunday, we had to be ready to go before the sun would rise in order to be in position to follow the president’s movements. On both days, we barely saw the president save for his red hat and white polo shirt barely visible through the tinted car window. He went straight to the golf course and back — no public comments (aside from his posts on social media) and no media events. Just golf.
On days like these, it’s a lot of “hurry up and wait.” Sprinting into vans in case the president decided to go somewhere — and holding in place for hours if necessary. The president makes his own choices and moves at his own pace. It’s up to us to adjust and prepare for it.
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Saturday came and went. Sunday golf went by with little movement. It was time to head back to Air Force One. We pulled onto the tarmac and sprinted out of our vans running with all possible haste towards the plane as the president’s vehicle was a few hundred yards ahead of us. By the time we made it under the wing, he was already halfway up the stairs onto the plane. The president was in a hurry, and as such, we were too, so we boarded promptly and were in the air mere minutes later.
After our dinner plates were cleared, we were informed by the president’s staff that he would be coming to the back of the plane to give some quick comments. We all flung out our bags and hastily prepared to get ready because he could arrive at any moment.
We waited with anticipation as the turbulence of the plane bobbed us side to side, knocking us into each other as we sat, stood and sprawled over the first two rows of seats.
Finally, the door to the press cabin did swing open and the president emerged — navy suit, white shirt and blue tie — a big smile on his face as he ticked off a series of “wins” for his administration, then opened the floor to questions. He went around the room, one by one, until coming to me. I knew the exact question I wanted to ask, which you can see here.
(Photo: Jordan Clifford of NewsNation)
It was on the stock market’s downturn in recent days as the U.S. prepared to implement new tariffs on major trade partners. I asked him what he had to say to everyday Americans who were watching their retirement accounts fall amid all these trade negotiations and starting to get nervous.
He looked me in the eye, acknowledging the question, and answered. “I think the tariffs are going to be the greatest thing we’ve done as a country,” he stated, continuing on to list inequities in trade with neighbors and reassuring the public that in the long run, he believed this was the right decision.
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After speaking with reporters for about 10 minutes, fielding questions on a variety of topics including the war in Ukraine, bills in Congress and White House agenda items, he departed. Not even five minutes later, the plane was on the ground. The rules about seats and tray tables being upright 30 minutes before landing are a little different on the most protected aircraft in the world.
Once more, we had to run in order to be down on the tarmac and ready once the president deplaned. We got into position, and he hastily made his way down the stairs and across the tarmac to Marine One. Just like that, he was gone, and our job was done. The president was en route back to the White House, meaning his “out of town” travel had concluded.
And subsequently, so did my time with the pool aboard Air Force One.
The presidential plane: a mystery [to me] no more.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation.
