Secret Service says agent tried to bring spouse on Trump's Scotland trip
Trump was asked about the incident on Air Force One July 29 as he wrapped up a four-day foreign trip, calling it a 'weird deal' and asking reporters, 'Is that a serious story?'
In a statement provided to USA TODAY, the agency said an employee tried to invite his spouse aboard a mission-support flight to Scotland as part of the president's trip.
The employee's spouse is a member of the U.S. Air Force, the statement said. The aircraft in question was operated by the Air Force and was being used by the Secret Service to transport personnel and equipment.
The employee was told before departure the spouse would not be allowed on the flight, and the spouse was prevented from taking the flight, according to the statement, which added that the incident did not impact protective operations.
The incident is under investigation by the agency. The Secret Service did not provide further information in its statement.
"I don't know, that's a strange one,' Trump said when asked about reports of the incident. 'I just heard that two minutes ago.'
The president added that Sean Curran, director of the Secret Service, is looking into it, and ended his remarks on the matter by calling it a 'strange story.'
Trump's comments came the same day he opened a new golf course in Scotland, marking the end of the multi-day foreign trip that began July 25. The five-day stay, which the White House called a 'working visit' took the president to his two luxury golf properties in Scotland, where he hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for trade talks.
Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr.
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