Trump switches Qatar Air Force One after Secret Service warning President Donald Trump unexpectedly abandoned his newly refurbished Qatari-gifted Air Force One during his return from the NATO summit in Turkey, switching instead to one of the ageing presidential aircraft that have protected US leaders for more than three decades. The surprise move came as the United States and Iran exchanged fresh military strikes, immediately fuelling speculation that security concerns had outweighed the prestige of flying aboard the new jet. Surprise switch raises questionsTrump arrived in Turkey aboard the recently converted Boeing 747-800, a luxury aircraft donated by Qatar and modified at a reported cost of around $400 million. However, instead of flying home on the same aircraft, the President boarded one of the older VC-25 Air Force One jets for the first leg of the journey before later transferring back to the new aircraft at RAF Mildenhall in eastern England. Speaking to reporters, Trump insisted the change was simply "for old time's sake" and dismissed suggestions that Iran had forced the decision. "I have a threat all the time," Trump said. "I'm No. 1 on their list." Security questions refuse to disappearDespite White House denials, the timing has inevitably raised fresh questions. The aircraft swap took place just hours after the United States launched major strikes against Iranian military targets following attacks on commercial oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Adding to the intrigue, the transponder aboard the older Air Force One was reportedly switched off for part of the journey—an operational security measure normally associated with flights through high-risk areas or conflict zones. Other world leaders departing the NATO summit continued to fly with publicly trackable transponders. New aircraft still lacks key defencesDefence analysts have long questioned whether the refurbished Qatari aircraft is ready to replace the existing Air Force One fleet. Unlike the Cold War-era VC-25 aircraft currently in service, the new jet reportedly lacks several sophisticated defensive systems, including some missile warning equipment, electronic countermeasures and hardened communications technology. The US Air Force has acknowledged that a number of complex engineering upgrades were deliberately postponed in order to place the aircraft into service more quickly, although officials insist no unacceptable security risks have been accepted. Experts have also noted that the aircraft appears better suited to domestic and lower-risk international travel than missions involving heightened military threats. Old Air Force One still trustedThe existing Air Force One fleet was specifically designed to survive some of the world's worst-case scenarios. Built near the end of the Cold War, the aircraft were hardened against nuclear blast effects, equipped with advanced missile defence systems, secure global communications, an onboard medical suite and even the capability to refuel while airborne. Those features continue to make the ageing aircraft among the safest presidential transports ever built. Symbolism mattersWhether the decision was driven by security or simply operational planning, the optics are difficult to ignore. At the very moment tensions with Iran escalated dramatically, the President chose to rely on the proven aircraft that have protected American presidents for over 35 years rather than the gleaming new replacement. The episode is likely to fuel further debate over whether the Qatari-gifted aircraft is truly ready to serve as America's flying White House during periods of international crisis. SOURCE RELATED Trump switches Air Force One after Secret Service security warning President Donald Trump reportedly abandoned plans to fly home from the NATO summit in Turkey aboard the newly retrofitted Qatari-gifted Air Force One after the US Secret Service advised against it over potential security concerns linked to Iran. According to reports from The Hill and The New York Times, the decision was taken out of an abundance of caution following a sharp escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran. While officials stressed there was no specific or credible threat against the aircraft, security advisers were unwilling to take unnecessary risks with the President's safety. Trump instead departed Ankara aboard the older Boeing VC-25 Air Force One before transferring to the newer aircraft later during the journey after both planes stopped at RAF Mildenhall in the UK. The unexpected switch came just hours after the United States launched major strikes against Iranian military targets in retaliation for attacks on commercial oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran later responded with missile attacks against US military facilities in the Gulf, dramatically increasing fears of a wider regional conflict. During the flight, Trump dismissed suggestions that he had been forced to change aircraft because of an imminent Iranian threat. He insisted he had flown on the older presidential jet "for old time's sake", while also remarking that he is "No. 1 on their list" of assassination targets. Security experts have questioned whether the newly modified Qatari aircraft currently carries the full suite of defensive systems fitted to the long-serving Air Force One fleet, including advanced missile warning and countermeasure equipment. The aircraft is expected to serve only as an interim presidential transport until the next-generation Air Force One fleet enters service. The White House insisted the aircraft is equipped with high-level security measures and said every available precaution is taken to protect the President. Officials have neither confirmed nor denied whether security capabilities played any role in the decision to swap aircraft. The episode nevertheless highlights the increasingly volatile security environment facing the White House as US-Iran tensions continue to escalate, with presidential travel now being assessed against rapidly changing military threats across the Middle East. THE HILL
