WASHINGTON — President Trump confirmed Tuesday that a Secret Service agent tried to sneak his wife onto a transport plane accompanying the president’s Air Force One jet to Scotland, the latest misstep for the beleaguered protective agency.
“Wouldn’t you think it might be a little dangerous?” Trump told reporters on his way back to Washington after five days on the other side of the Atlantic.
“That’s a weird deal,” the president added, confirming that he was informed of the matter before expressing confidence that agency Director Sean M. Curran will “take care of it.”
The incident was first reported by the Herald newspaper of Glasgow, which reported that the Dallas-based agent flew his wife to Maryland, where she received an official briefing and was taken to Joint Base Andrews ahead of Trump’s departure before being discovered and told to leave.
“The U.S. Secret Service is conducting a personnel investigation after an employee attempted to invite his spouse – a member of the United States Air Force – aboard a mission support flight,” Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi told the outlet in a statement.
“Prior to the overseas departure, the employee was advised by supervisors that such action was prohibited, and the spouse was subsequently prevented from taking the flight. No Secret Service protectees were aboard and there was no impact to our overseas protective operation.”
Several planes usually accompany Air Force One on presidential trips, carrying Secret Service agents, equipment and other support staff.
