Qatari-gifted Air Force One deploys inflatable slide before departing for GOP convention in Texas

An emergency inflatable slide on the Qatari-gifted Air Force One was deployed at Joint Base Andrews before President Trump departed for the Republican midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday.

The slide was inflated onto the tarmac from the door on the right-hand side, opposite the door that Trump usually uses to enter the plane, according to the White House press pool traveling with the president.

Trump unusually remained inside of Marine One for more than 20 minutes after landing at Joint Base Andrews, as the slide was deployed.

When asked by reporters about the slide, Trump told reporters, “They want to make sure everything works perfectly.”

The development comes as the new Qatari-gifted jet has come under heavy scrutiny over security concerns around its defense capabilities in recent months.

Last month, The Washington Post reported that Trump secretly departed the NATO summit in Turkey in July using an alternate military aircraft amid a security threat from Iran. Trump had arrived at the summit on the Qatari-gifted jet.

Prior to the bombshell report, Trump announced in Turkey that he would be using the old Air Force One to leave the summit and board the new jet in the United Kingdom. He claimed the plane shuffle would allow troops stationed overseas to see the newly renovated jet.

Trump was seen boarding the old Air Force One in Ankara but was secretly shuttled by Secret Service in a catering truck to a military aircraft, according to the Post report.