Donald Trump Returns From Turkey on Older Air Force One Amid U.S.-Iran Strikes

President Donald Trump returned from a NATO summit in Turkey on an older Air Force One rather than the Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-800 he arrived in, with the change coming as the U.S. and Iran resumed trading strikes.

The late switch raised questions about the interim aircraft’s security fit amid Iran tensions, and Trump told reporters he was taking the older plane home “for old time’s sake” while indicating both aircraft would make an unscheduled stop at Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the UK.

ABC News

The U.S. spent USD 400 million to retrofit the Qatari jet, and images reviewed by the Associated Press showed it was not equipped with at least some of the missile detection and countermeasure systems as its predecessor.

The ABC News account said the swap was announced less than a day after the U.S. military conducted a series of large strikes in Iran in retaliation for its attacks on merchant shipping in the region.

In Ankara, Trump also said, “I’m No. 1 on the kill list for Iran,” while refusing to directly answer whether security concerns drove the decision.

White House spokesman Steven Cheung defended the new aircraft as “state-of-the-art,” saying it had been fitted with “high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff.”

When asked at a news conference whether security concerns had led to the decision, Trump did not directly answer and instead said, “No. 1 on the list for killing,” referring to Iran.

ABC News

The Independent reported that images reviewed by the Associated Press showed the newly acquired jet was not equipped with at least some of the same missile detection and countermeasures systems as its predecessor.

ABC News said Trump didn’t directly answer when asked if security concerns had played a role, but he told reporters he was “No. 1 on the list for killing.”

Forbes added that 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.”

The swap kept attention on the role and readiness of the interim Qatari “bridge” aircraft, while two Boeing jets being modified as permanent replacements were delayed and expected in 2028.

Trump said the newer plane would tour RAF Mildenhall so military personnel could “tour the Aircraft,” while he would return on a plane previously used as Air Force One.

The Independent described the Qatari-gifted jet as a temporary placeholder between Trump’s older Boeing fleet and newer planes not expected to be ready until the end of Trump’s term, at the earliest.

The Guardian reported that Trump later boarded the new plane at Mildenhall for the trip back to Washington, after he flew from Turkey to England on the older Air Force One.

Forbes said Trump accepted the gifted plane in May last year and took his inaugural flight on it last week when he traveled to North Dakota for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.