President Trump on Tuesday confirmed reports that a Secret Service agent tried to sneak his wife onto a transport plane accompanying Air Force One to Scotland, saying he’s confident the issue will be addressed.
“That’s a weird deal. Would he leave the wife in the car? Would you think it might be a little dangerous?” Mr. Trump asked reporters on Air Force One as he returned to Washington from Scotland.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said the agency “is conducting a personnel investigation after an employee attempted to invite his spouse — a member of the United States Air Force — aboard a mission support flight.”
“The aircraft, operated by the U.S. Air Force, was being used by the Secret Service to transport personnel and equipment,” he said in a statement. “Prior to the overseas departure, the employee was advised by supervisors that such action was prohibited and the spouse was subsequently prevented from taking the flight. No Secret Service protectees were aboard and there was no impact to overseas protective operations.”
Mr. Trump said he was informed of the situation and expressed confidence that the agency will “take care” of the issue.
The Herald, a Scottish newspaper, reported that a Dallas-based Secret Service agent flew his wife to Maryland, where she received an official briefing and was taken to Joint Base Andrews ahead of Mr. Trump’s departure before she was discovered in the distinguished visitors’ lounge and ordered to leave.
When the president flies on Air Force One, a number of support planes always accompany the president to transport agents and staff and to pre-position the presidential limousines and helicopters in place at the destination.
The Secret Service did not say what day the incident occurred.
It’s the latest embarrassment for the beleaguered agency, which has been under heavy scrutiny since last year when it missed the warning signs of an attempted assassination targeting Mr. Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Mr. Trump was wounded in the ear, and a rallygoer was killed.
Other embarrassments include a 2022 incident where two agents were sent home from President Joseph R. Biden’s trip to Asia after one was accused of drunkenly assaulting a South Korean during a fight over a taxi.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.