Officials have instructed journalists to cease taking souvenirs from Air Force One after discovering items like embroidered pillowcases, engraved whisky glasses, and gold-rimmed plates have gone missing.
Traditionally, the 13 White House reporters accompanying the president on his travels have been allowed to take home M&M’s with the presidential seal as a souvenir. The luxurious presidential plane is a flying White House and office for the leader and press traveling together. However, many have additionally pocketed other branded items over the years.
Following an inquiry into the topic, Politico revealed that “for years, scores of journalists—and others—have quietly stuffed everything from engraved whisky tumblers to wine glasses to pretty much anything with the Air Force One insignia on it into their bags before stepping off the plane.”
The White House Correspondents’ Association’s last straw came when Joe Biden went to the West Coast and a check revealed numerous missing items.
NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell, the association’s president, said that taking away anything from the aircraft was not authorized and that such activities negatively reflected on the press corps.
Politico reported that after a meeting between the reporter and a press representative was set up in a park across from the White House, at least one journalist quietly returned an embroidered pillowcase.
Nevertheless, some journalists remain unapologetic, with one correspondent claiming no wrongdoing in amassing a collection of Air Force One souvenirs over time.
