WH Officials Reportedly Asked to Turn Over Their Phone in Susie Wiles-Kash Patel Hunt for Leakers: CNN

US President Donald Trump delivers remarks on More trade deals, Changing water restriction/regulations and Tax cuts; during the American farmers event, today on March 27, 2026 at South Lawn/White House in Washington DC, USA. (Lenin Nolly/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)

FBI Director Kash Patel and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles are reportedly leading an investigation in “some officials” at the White House have been asked to turn over their phones. The pair are attempting to determine who was responsible for leaking information about the alleged security problems with a Qatari-donated plane that President Donald Trump hopes to use as Air Force One, CNN reported.

The leak led to reporting by The New York Times that left Trump “fuming.” Patel, who was meant to be traveling to Chicago, was sent back to D.C. Friday to begin the investigation into its source.

The Times later revealed at least four of its reporters were subpoenaed by the U.S. Justice Department.

“In this case, the subpoenas were not a last resort, which is typically what they’re supposed to do when there is an alleged leak hunt. This time it came within 48 hours of the first story being published… This was something that was quite known in Washington. It was not a surprise,” Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman said during a Monday appearance on Morning Joe. “This is not just issuing subpoenas; it’s sending federal agents to people’s homes.”

CNN also noted that investigators have requested “information from those who were traveling with Trump or had a role in the trip.” Not everyone who has been asked to turn over their phone has complied with the request.

The investigation is a”significant breach” of the independence the Justice Department has long maintained with the President.

The Times has made the paper’s intent to fight the subpoenas in court clear.

Worries about the plane, which is valued at approximately $400 million, surfaced last week after Trump unexpectedly announced a different plane would be sent to Mildenhall Air Force Base in England before he left the NATO summit. At the time, he said the swap was meant to give servicemembers stationed at the base the opportunity to tour the plane.

Sources told CNN the new plane was “quickly retrofitted with defence capabilities but was still not as secure as the older version.” The entire scope of the potential security differences and problems has not been made publicly available.

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