Trump switches to older Air Force One for Turkey-UK flight, returns to Qatar-gifted jet
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
President Trump used the older Air Force One for a trip from Turkey to the United Kingdom before returning to the Qatar-gifted aircraft, prompting Secret Service-guided security concerns.
President Donald Trump flew from Ankara to the United Kingdom on the older Air Force One before boarding the Qatar-gifted VIP jet for his return to Joint Base Andrews. The change was reportedly advised by the Secret Service, which cited the newer aircraft’s lack of certain security features compared with the legacy plane.
"I’m number one on the kill list for Iran," Trump told a reporter when asked if the switch was linked to the renewed Iran conflict. He later reiterated that he faces a constant threat from Iran.
Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said the security standards of the gifted jet may be lower because converting an aircraft to Air Force One typically takes years and billions of dollars. An unnamed senior administration official countered that the plane underwent the same FAA-certified safety protocols as previous Air Force One aircraft. An Air Force spokesperson added that the aircraft is "safe, secure and equipped with the most advanced technologies necessary to meet the requirements of the presidential mission," noting that critical mission requirements were prioritized over aesthetics.
The Qatar-gifted jet, accepted by the administration in May 2023, has undergone security upgrades estimated between $400 million and $1 billion. It is intended as a temporary “bridge” aircraft while Boeing builds two new custom planes. Trump has said the jet will eventually be displayed at his presidential library in Miami, though its final disposition remains uncertain.