Former President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that a member of the U.S. Secret Service attempted to bring his spouse aboard a support aircraft traveling alongside Air Force One during Trump’s recent trip to Scotland, an action that prompted an internal investigation within the agency.

Speaking to reporters while returning to Washington after spending five days overseas, Trump described the incident as troubling and potentially risky. “Wouldn’t you think that could be dangerous?” he asked, calling the situation “very strange.” Trump said he had been briefed on the matter and expressed confidence that Secret Service Director Sean M. Curran would handle it appropriately.

According to reporting from a Glasgow-based newspaper, the Secret Service agent involved was stationed in Dallas and allegedly arranged for his wife to travel to Maryland. There, she reportedly received an official briefing and was transported to Joint Base Andrews ahead of the president’s departure. The situation was uncovered before the overseas flight departed, and she was instructed to leave.

Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi confirmed that the agency is conducting a personnel investigation. In a statement, he said an employee had attempted to invite his spouse—who is an active-duty member of the U.S. Air Force—onto a mission support flight. Supervisors informed the employee that this was not permitted, and the spouse was prevented from boarding the aircraft.

Guglielmi emphasized that no individuals under Secret Service protection were aboard the flight in question and that the attempted breach had no effect on the president’s overseas security operations.

When the president travels internationally, Air Force One is typically accompanied by several additional aircraft. These planes transport Secret Service agents, communications equipment, vehicles, and other logistical support necessary for presidential protection.

The incident comes at a time when the Secret Service has already been under intense scrutiny. Federal and congressional investigations have criticized the agency for failures that allowed two assassination attempts against Trump during the previous year’s presidential campaign.

Despite that backdrop, the week has otherwise brought favorable developments for Trump and his administration, particularly on the economic front.

Recent trade agreements negotiated by the Trump administration appear to be boosting public confidence in the economy. According to data released Tuesday by the Conference Board, consumer confidence rose by two points this month to 97.2. The increase suggests Americans’ outlook has stabilized following a sharp downturn earlier in the spring.

That earlier decline followed the administration’s announcement of broad new tariffs, which sparked concern among economists and media commentators about potential inflation and labor market disruptions. Since then, many of those tariffs have been delayed, and the administration has announced trade agreements with seven countries, including China, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

Earlier this week, the White House also revealed it had reached the framework of a trade agreement with the European Union—one of America’s largest trading partners—calling it the most significant deal of its kind. However, consumer confidence data does not yet reflect public reaction to that agreement, as the survey was conducted prior to July 20.

In recent months, prices for several essential goods, including food and gasoline, have either declined or leveled off. Still, economists warn that inflationary pressures could return.

Lauren Goodwin, economist and chief market strategist at New York Life Investments, noted that while inflation has moderated this year, warning signs are emerging. She pointed to rising costs in goods sensitive to trade policy, such as electronics, clothing, and auto parts. According to Goodwin, aggressive tariffs can disrupt supply chains and dampen consumer demand if sustained.

As the administration approaches its global trade deadline, revenue from tariffs has climbed sharply. According to data cited by Fox Business from the Treasury Department, tariff collections have reached a record $150 billion so far this year.

In July alone, customs duties totaled nearly $28 billion—the highest monthly figure of the year and already surpassing June’s previous record of $27 billion. Earlier in the year, tariff revenues stood at approximately $7.9 billion in January before more than doubling to $16.3 billion by April.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the administration expects tariff revenues to exceed $300 billion annually.

While the administration highlights these figures as a fiscal win, economists note that U.S. companies ultimately pay the tariffs, passing costs along the supply chain. However, one component of the EU trade framework includes commitments by member states to purchase hundreds of billions of dollars in American energy products, including liquefied natural gas, oil, and nuclear fuel—moves aimed at reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian energy.