Topline<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump briefly ditched the new gifted Qatari VIP jet to fly from Ankara, Turkey, to the U.K. on the old Air Force One\u2014but switched back 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.<\/p>\n
US President Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.<\/p>\n
AFP via Getty ImagesKey Facts<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Trump told reporters in Turkey and said on Truth Social that 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 \u201ctwo or three\u201d other bases in Europe so service members could tour the aircraft, calling the detour to England a \u201cshort trip.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to<\/a> the New York Times, Trump\u2019s departure from Ankara\u2014where he attended a NATO Summit\u2014was done quickly, and passengers on board were asked to close their window shades before takeoff.<\/p>\n The old jet carrying the president arrived at the British Air Force Base RAF Mildenhall\u2014which also houses U.S. Air Force jets\u2014before switching back to the new jet for the final leg of the journey to Washington.<\/p>\n The Trump administration fast-tracked security upgrades for the gifted jet (which typically take years to complete) to begin transporting the president last week, raising concerns it lacks the proper defense systems. <\/p>\n Retired CIA officer and MS NOW security analyst Marc Polymeropoulos tweeted, \u201cSecret Service as USAF pleas must have won out, over Trump\u2019s vanity project,\u201d adding that the plane is \u201cjust not ready for prime time overseas.\u201d<\/p>\n Forbes has reached out to the White House for comment.<\/p>\n What Did Trump Say About Potential Threats To Air Force One From Iran?<\/p>\n Earlier on Wednesday, Trump was asked by a reporter if switching planes was tied to the reignited conflict with Iran, to which the president said, \u201cI\u2019m number one on the kill list for Iran.\u201d Later, while flying on board the jet<\/a>, from the U.K. to Joint Base Andrews, Trump was asked again if he was aware of \u201cany credible threat by Iran to Air Force One.\u201d The president told the reporter, \u201cWell, I have a threat all the time. I\u2019m number one on their list, before you. But if I go, you go\u2026Perhaps someday you want to change professions.\u201d At the start of the press gaggle onboard the plane, the president told the reporters: \u201cIt was a long walk to you. It\u2019s about three times the walk we used to take, right? I hope you like it.\u201d <\/p>\n News Peg<\/p>\n According to<\/a> the New York Times, the switch in jet was prompted by advice from the Secret Service. Citing unnamed sources briefed on the Qatari jet\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n chief critic<\/p>\n Former Biden Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall also told MS NOW<\/a> last week it\u2019s 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 \u201cprotective measures that Air Force Ones have against different types of threats that might be employed against the aircraft.\u201d<\/p>\n Contra<\/p>\n An unnamed senior Trump administration official insisted to MS NOW \u201cthere were no shortcuts taken\u201d to secure the plane and it \u201cwent 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.\u201d An Air Force spokesperson said, \u201cwe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Key Background<\/p>\n 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 \u201cbridge\u201d 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\u2019s unclear if Trump has the authority to determine its fate.<\/p>\n further reading<\/p>\n Trump Threatens Fresh Iran Strikes After Declaring Ceasefire \u2018Over\u2019<\/a> (Forbes)<\/p>\n