Topline
President Donald Trump briefly ditched the new gifted Qatari VIP jet as he flew from Ankara, Turkey, to Mildenhall in the U.K. on board the old Air Force One before switching back again to the new plane on his return flight to Andrews Air Force base, triggering questions about its security features amid a renewed conflict with Iran.
US President Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
Trump left Ankara, Turkey, on the old Air Force One jet after flying there on the Boeing 747 gifted to the U.S. by Qatar last year.
Trump told reporters in Turkey and said in a post on Truth Social he was flying home on the old plane because the Qatari jet was headed to RAF Mildenhall, a U.S. Air Force base in Suffolk, England, and “two or three” other bases in Europe so service members could tour the aircraft, calling the detour to England a “short trip.”
According to the New York Times, Trump’s departure from Ankara—where he attended a NATO Summit—was done quickly, and passengers on board were asked to close their window shades before takeoff.
The old jet carrying the president arrived at the British Air Force Base RAF Mildenhall—which also houses U.S. Air Force jets—before switching back to the new jet for the final leg of the journey to Washington.
Trump’s trip to Ankara was the first time the Qatari gifted jet’s first international trip with the President on board.
The Trump administration fast-tracked security upgrades for the jet (which typically take years to complete) to begin transporting the president last week, raising concerns it lacks the proper defense systems.
Retired CIA officer and MS NOW security analyst Marc Polymeropoulos tweeted that “Secret Service as USAF pleas must have won out, over Trump’s vanity project,” adding that the plane is “just not ready for prime time overseas.”
Forbes has reached out to the White House for comment.
What Did Trump Say About Potential Threats To Air Force One From Iran?
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump was asked by a reporter if the switching of plans was tied to the reignited conflict with Iran; the president simply said, “I’m number one on the kill list for Iran.” Later, while flying on board the jet, from the U.K. to Joint Base Andrews, Trump was asked again if he was aware of “any credible threat by Iran to Air Force One?” The president told the reporter, “Well, I have a threat all the time. I’m number one on their list, before you. But if I go, you go…Perhaps someday you want to change professions.” At the start of the press gaggle onboard the plane, the president told the reporters: “It was a long walk to you. It’s about three times the walk we used to take, right? I hope you like it.”
News Peg
According to the New York Times, the switch in jet was prompted by advice from the Secret Service. Citing unnamed sources briefed on the Qatari jet’s capabilities, the report said it lacks all the features of the older Air Force One. The report noted that the change of planes was a precautionary measure urged by the Secret Service rather than any specific threat from Iran.
chief critic
Former Biden Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall also told MS NOW last week it’s likely the typical Air Force One security standards for the plane were lowered since it usually takes years and billions of dollars to turn an aircraft into an Air Force One plane, noting he questions whether it has the specific command and control capabilities and “protective measures that Air Force Ones have against different types of threats that might be employed against the aircraft.”
Contra
An unnamed senior Trump administration official insisted to MS NOW “there were no shortcuts taken” to secure the plane and it “went through the same safety protocols that every Air Force One has gone through in accordance with FAA standards, and it is an FAA-certified aircraft.” An Air Force spokesperson said, “we are confident the aircraft is safe, secure and equipped with the most advanced technologies necessary to meet the requirements of the presidential mission. To accelerate delivery, we prioritized critical mission requirements over aesthetics.”
Tangent
Trump said the U.S. would “probably” strike Iran again Wednesday night after saying earlier in the day the ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. was “over” and calling ongoing negotiations between the two sides a “waste of time.”
Key Background
The Trump administration accepted the gifted plane in May last year and Trump took his inaugural flight on the plane last week when he traveled to North Dakota for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. The Air Force has said it spent less than $400 million on security upgrades to the plane, though some experts have estimated the cost is likely closer to $1 billion. The jet is intended to serve as a “bridge” aircraft used temporarily by Trump while Boeing builds two new custom planes that are years behind schedule. The gift has drawn widespread conflict-of-interest concerns, though Trump has claimed it was purely a gift that Qatar seeks nothing in return for. He intends for it to go to his presidential library in Miami after leaving office, though it’s unclear if Trump has the authority to determine its fate.
further reading
Trump Threatens Fresh Iran Strikes After Declaring Ceasefire ‘Over’ (Forbes)
Trump Said Gifted Qatari Jet Was ‘Free’—But Renovation Cost Could Reportedly Near $1 Billion (Forbes)
Republicans Question Trump’s Plan To Accept Luxury Plane Gift From Qatar (Forbes)
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