Trump switches to old Air Force One for return from Turkey after Iran strikes reignite security fears

The switch

President Trump departed Ankara on Wednesday evening aboard the older Air Force One, a Boeing 747-200, rather than the new $400 million Qatari-donated Boeing 747-8 he had flown to Turkey on Monday. The change, first announced in a Truth Social post, was described by Trump as a gesture to allow US troops at RAF Mildenhall in England to tour the "magnificent" new aircraft. But multiple people briefed on the plans told The New York Times that the Secret Service urged the swap as a security precaution after hostilities with Iran reignited.

Security concerns

The new plane, accepted as a gift from Qatar last year and rushed into service, lacks some of the missile detection and countermeasures systems present on the older aircraft, according to images reviewed by the Associated Press and anonymous officials. Lawmakers had previously raised concerns that the expedited retrofit timeline might have skipped advanced defensive modifications. The switch came as the US launched a series of strikes against Iran, which shares a border with Turkey, while Trump attended a NATO summit in Ankara.

The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff. As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal -- including distraction and misdirection -- to address those threats.

Iran threats

During a press conference in Ankara, Trump repeatedly stated that he believed Iran was trying to assassinate him. "I'm No. 1 on the kill list for Iran," he said, referencing a long-standing animosity dating back to the 2020 US drone strike that killed Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani. The president declared that the fragile ceasefire in the months-long conflict was "over," and US forces conducted retaliatory strikes. The proximity of Ankara to the Iranian border, roughly 1,000 miles, heightened security concerns for the presidential departure.

I'm number one on the kill list for Iran. I don't really care because I'm doing my job... But I'm number one on the list for killing.

The new plane's controversy

The Qatari government's gift of a Boeing 747-8 to the US last year drew criticism from lawmakers over potential security risks and conflicts of interest. The Trump administration had pressed for the aircraft to be ready as quickly as possible, but the accelerated timeline may have left gaps in its defensive suite. The older Air Force One, by contrast, carries an advanced missile defense system and other classified countermeasures.

Trump's response

Trump denied that security concerns prompted the aircraft change, telling reporters he was flying the older plane "for old time's sake" and that the new jet would tour military bases to "show it to the people." When pressed by a reporter who noted the speculation about Iran, Trump did not directly address the aircraft question, instead reiterating the dangers of the presidency. The new plane was scheduled to visit Mildenhall and possibly other bases before returning to the US.