Trump delays flight to RNC midterm convention as Qatari jet stuck with emergency slide issue

President Donald Trump’s departure for the Republican National Convention was delayed after his Qatar-gifted jet developed an issue with the emergency slide, raising questions about the cause of the hold. At Joint Base Andrews, he remained aboard Marine One on the tarmac for about 20 minutes while ground crew deployed the slide from the new aircraft’s blue, red, white and gold exterior. The slide stayed extended onto the tarmac. A second Air Force One—an older blue-and-white 747—moved into position a few hundred meters behind and had its own front and rear steps deployed. Trump later told reporters staff were “just testing the slide,” saying it takes about 15 minutes.