An emergency inflatable slide deployed on President Donald Trump's Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday afternoon, causing a delay before his scheduled departure for the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas, Texas.

The incident occurred as personnel were preparing the aircraft, a Boeing VC-25B gifted by Qatar, for the President's flight. The deployment of such emergency slides is not a routine pre-departure procedure and typically requires a significant effort to remove and reset.

President Trump commented on the situation to reporters, suggesting the slide was being checked and estimated the delay would take about 15 minutes. He indicated confidence in the aircraft's safety for flight, stating he would not board if he felt it was unsafe. The White House referred to the President's remarks when asked for comment.

The unexpected deployment necessitated a check of the slide's functionality. While President Trump assured reporters the plane was safe, the process of redeploying an escape slide is time-consuming. Air Force personnel were observed attending to the deployed slide on the tarmac.

The aircraft in question, a $400 million Boeing VC-25B, is a recent and unprecedented gift from the Qatari royal family, which has drawn scrutiny from some lawmakers and ethics experts. President Trump has previously described the plane, approximately 14 years old, as the "world's most luxurious plane."

Following the slide deployment and subsequent checks, the inflatable device was removed from the aircraft and transported away on a truck. A backup aircraft, President Trump's older Air Force One, was brought onto the tarmac as a precautionary measure.

This event occurred shortly before President Trump was slated to deliver the keynote address at the Republican party's inaugural midterm convention. The convention is a significant event for the party as it approaches the midterm elections.

Further details regarding the specific cause of the slide's deployment were not immediately available. The incident highlights a rare operational anomaly with the presidential aircraft, raising questions about the maintenance and readiness of the foreign-gifted plane.