Shoplifting on Air Force One: White House warns journalists who shoplifted on Biden’s plane

“Everyone on Air Force One seems to be stealing”: US news site Politico had fun on Friday with a warning addressed to journalists traveling on the American president’s plane.

Politico’s investigation—humorous but detailed—begins with an email sent in early February to members of the White House Correspondents’ Association.

AFP has seen the contents of this message, which are not intended to be made public. The prestigious association’s president, NBC correspondent Kelly O’Donnell, issued a strong call for order after objects disappeared from the press bay of the world’s most famous and safest plane.

Suspicious clinking of dishes

When the American president travels, he is accompanied by thirteen journalists who travel in the back seat of his Boeing. They are served food and drinks during the flight, always at the expense of appropriate media, just like the journey itself.

The crew regularly gives out small bags of M&Ms bearing the president’s seal and signature as souvenirs. You can also purchase glasses and other branded accessories on board.

But that’s not enough for all travelers, reports Politico, which mentions the suspicious clanking of dishes sometimes coming from the bags of disembarked journalists.

A former correspondent for a major newspaper, especially a methodical one, would accumulate enough gold-rimmed Air Force One plates to serve dinner to his guests one night, the news site reports.