Trump Switches to Older Air Force One for NATO Return Leg

President Donald Trump left the NATO summit in Ankara on an older Air Force One, transferred planes at a British base, and completed the trip to the United States on the refurbished Boeing 747 donated by Qatar. The sequence occurred on July 9 as U.S. forces conducted fresh strikes against Iran and Trump described himself as the country's top target.

Trump departed Ankara at 8:45 p.m. local time aboard the legacy VC-25A. The aircraft landed at RAF Mildenhall at 10:16 p.m. He then boarded the Qatari-gifted jet, which took off at 11:14 p.m. for Joint Base Andrews. He had arrived in Turkey on the newer plane earlier in the week.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said the newer aircraft had been sent ahead so U.S. troops at the base could view it. He posted photographs on Truth Social showing personnel gathered around the jet. When asked directly whether security concerns prompted the switch, he replied, "No, no, why would there be?"

Earlier the same day Trump stated at a press conference that he remained "number one on the kill list for Iran." He added that threats were constant and that he was "doing my job." White House communications director Steven Cheung said the newer jet carries "high-level security protocols" and that the administration uses "every tool at our disposal" against threats.

The $400 million Qatari aircraft has drawn criticism from Democrats and some Republicans over potential influence concerns and the cost of converting it for presidential use. The Associated Press reported that images show it lacks at least some missile-detection systems present on the older plane. The White House maintains the jet meets all mission requirements.

People familiar with the matter told The New York Times that the Secret Service recommended the older aircraft for the Ankara-to-Britain leg because of resumed U.S.-Iran hostilities. No on-the-record confirmation of that recommendation has been provided by the Secret Service or the White House. The new plane's full defensive suite relative to the legacy fleet remains unverified in public records.

Trump has said he intends to retain the Qatari jet for his presidential library after leaving office. Congressional Democrats have signaled possible inquiries into the gift's ethics and security implications.