AP maps Trump's Air Force One access circle during midterms
Source published: Oct 25, 2026 · 8:31 AM EDT · Event: 2026-10-25
Associated Press reporting from aboard Air Force One describes the mix of officials, aides, strategists, lawmakers and celebrity guests accompanying Donald Trump during his October midterm campaign travel. Frequent or recurring travelers identified by AP include Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, special envoy Steve Witkoff, deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, FHFA Director Bill Pulte, personal aides Natalie Harp and Walt Nauta, and political advisers Matt Brasseaux, Johnny DeStefano and James Blair. AP says Trump logged about 70 hours aboard the aircraft during the month.
Response / context
AP frames the passenger pattern as evidence of access and a clue to Trump's priorities. It reports that Pulte joined at least five flight legs, while celebrities including Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Evander Holyfield, Nicki Minaj, Richard Petty, Jon Gruden, Todd Gurley and Jake Paul appeared in campaign travel or rallies. Professors David Cohen and Martha Kumar told AP that presidential travel companions can signal whose counsel and company a president values, while also providing comfort during intense campaigning. Those observations do not establish that every traveler advised Trump, influenced a specific decision, received a government role or obtained a benefit. The Ledger did not locate a comprehensive official passenger manifest and relies on AP's observations, photographs and reporting for the broader pattern.
Dates and scope
Source publication: Oct 25, 2026 · 8:31 AM EDT
Event or conduct: 2026-10-25. AP published the report October 25 at 8:31 a.m. EDT and described travel throughout October. Its photographs document Susie Wiles and Natalie Harp boarding October 16, Floyd Mayweather Jr. aboard October 14, Ted Cruz boarding October 7, and Bill Pulte and Nicki Minaj traveling October 25. The Ledger reviewed the report at 5:03 p.m. EDT October 25. The article date reflects the AP report and latest observed travel; the underlying access pattern spans the month.
Dated report. Publication, event and review times are different; the review time is when the sources were last checked, not a live update.
This brief preserves the available response and disposition. Coverage is non-exhaustive. How we review sources.
Read the original sources
- Associated Press, Josh Boak: Who's on Air Force One? Trump's midterms entourage includes strategists, aides and aging athletes ↗
October 25 report from aboard Air Force One, supported by AP photographs and observations across Trump's October travel; documents access patterns without proving influence over particular decisions
Keep following this record
The Pardon Ledger is a free weekly email: new clemency grants and money entries, each with its sources, the response on record, and what changed.
Latest issue: Whose names are on the filings ↗
Or follow @innercircleledger.com on Bluesky and @PardonLedger on X · Support the Ledger · Download the data