Trump Wishes Air Force One Reporters a Safe Flight Only ‘Because I’m on the Flight’

President Donald Trump lobbed a thinly veiled insult at a group of reporters during their transatlantic flight.

On Thursday, Sept. 18, the president addressed journalists on Air Force One while returning to Washington, D.C., after his state visit in the United Kingdom.

He concluded his remarks by telling reporters he hoped they’d have a safe flight back to the United States — because safe travels for them meant safe travels for him.

“Fly safely. You know why I say that? Because I’m on the flight,” Trump, 79, said. “Otherwise I wouldn’t care.”

Trump’s remarks came shortly after he and first lady Melania Trump had their own travel scare.

Prior to departing London on the presidential plane, the Trumps took a short helicopter trip aboard Marine One that had to make an emergency landing at a local airfield because of a “minor hydraulic issue.”

The first couple were flying from Chequers to Stansted Airport, where Air Force One was waiting, when Marine One landed early “out of an abundance of caution,” according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The pair then transferred to a secondary helicopter and continued their journey.

The Trumps experienced an additional aircraft-related hitch earlier in their trip, during their journey to the United Kingdom.

While flying over Long Island, N.Y., a Spirit Airlines jet had a close encounter with Air Force One after the pilots allegedly hesitated to veer away from the president’s plane at the urging of air traffic controllers.

The White House Correspondents’ Association, a century-old organization made up of hundreds of political journalists, organizes “press pools” for most events involving the president in an effort to promote White House transparency.

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Pool reporters are tasked with documenting the president’s actions and comments throughout the day, then reporting important details back to the rest of the WHCA so all members have equal access to the president and can keep the public informed.

Whenever the president travels on Air Force One, he is accompanied by a full traveling press pool that includes at least one representative from each type of media.