Emergency slide deploys on Qatari-gifted Air Force One before Trump departs for GOP convention

An apparent issue with a new presidential aircraft delayed President Donald Trump’s departure for the GOP convention in Dallas on Wednesday after an emergency slide deployed on the far side of the plane. Speaking to reporters on the tarmac, Trump suggested the deployment was intentional, saying crews were checking the emergency system and that the process takes about 15 minutes. Trump arrived at Joint Base Andrews aboard Marine One at 2:02 p.m. ET and stayed there for more than 20 minutes as the situation unfolded. An older Air Force One with a light blue paint job pulled up and was designated as Wednesday’s backup. At 2:24 p.m., Marine One stairs extended and Trump stepped onto the new jet.