U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday, July 29, that a Secret Service agent attempted to sneak his wife onto a support plane accompanying Air Force One during the president’s trip to Scotland, calling it the latest embarrassing misstep for the agency.
“Wouldn’t you think it might be a little dangerous?” Trump told reporters while returning to Washington after a five-day overseas visit. “That’s a weird deal,” he added, noting he had been briefed on the incident and expressing confidence that Secret Service Director Sean M. Curran would “take care of it.”
According to The Herald in Glasgow, the Dallas-based agent arranged for his wife, a U.S. Air Force service member, to fly to Maryland, where she received an official briefing and was escorted to Joint Base Andrews in preparation for the trip. However, the plan was uncovered before departure, and she was removed from the flight.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi confirmed an internal investigation is underway, stating: “The U.S. Secret Service 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. 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.”
Guglielmi emphasized that no Secret Service protectees were on board the aircraft and that the incident did not affect the overseas protective operation.
Presidential trips abroad are typically supported by multiple aircraft carrying security staff, equipment, and other logistical support essential to the mission.
