Senior staff was furious with President Donald Trump as more information surfaced about the jet plane swap in Turkey last month, a White House insider said on Thursday.
Brian Karem, Raw America White House reporter, detailed how these Trump administration officials and a former White House press secretary reacted to news that Trump had abandoned his own team and press corps for another plane amid a threat from Iran.
Trump had commented, joking with reporters that he would "go first" if Air Force One was attacked.
"Apparently not," a high-ranking Trump staff member told Karem. "He got off the plane and left us there."
Members of the press and even Trump's top Cabinet members had no knowledge of the threat, as Trump left them as "potential sitting ducks in the event of a missile attack," Karem reported.
The president's move has prompted a rupture among some of his top staff.
"When reporters asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week about the ruse, Rubio turned around, gave a slight grin, and then left the room with a disgusted expression on his face," Karem wrote.
"How would you feel if you were cannon fodder?" a senior Trump staff member said.
At least two press members told Karem that they had prepared for the next time they travel in the press pool and had their "affairs in order."
"What does it say that our president cares so little for those around him?" the senior staffer asked.
Former Clinton press secretary Joe Lockhart told Karem he felt compelled to speak out about Trump's comments and actions after the reports came to light.
"There is simply no reason why we should accept that behavior, and the reporters and the staff who were left behind have every reason to be upset," Lockhart said. "The president’s life is paramount. But that’s not an excuse for forgetting everyone else."