Trump Chooses Older Aircraft Amid Iran Tensions
US President Donald Trump departed Turkey aboard an older presidential aircraft while his newly acquired Qatari-donated jet was flown ahead to the United Kingdom, according to fresh details from four US officials. The decision was driven by security considerations related to the escalating conflict with Iran.
Two officials stated that security teams preferred the older Air Force One because it was purpose-built to protect the commander-in-chief, unlike the retrofitted aircraft donated by Qatar. Although no specific new threat against Trump was identified, the president publicly acknowledged concerns over his safety during the NATO summit.
Trump Acknowledges Safety Risks
“I’m number one on the list for killing,” Trump said, highlighting the perceived danger. Officials cited changing threat assessments, with one source noting that security evaluations are constantly evolving. “Threat assessments change all the time,” the source said.
Before Trump departed Turkey, the Qatari-donated Boeing 747 was flown to RAF Mildenhall in England. Trump initially said the move was to allow American service personnel stationed there to view the aircraft. “Everybody is so excited, and we thought that they should be the first,” he wrote on social media.
Window Shades Lowered Amid Tensions
When asked why journalists were instructed to lower their window shades during take-off, Trump suggested tensions involving Iran could have been a factor, saying Air Force One could be on a “dangerous plane because of the sleaze bags we have to deal with.” Officials added that while the Qatari aircraft is considered safe, the older Air Force One remains better suited for missions involving heightened international security risks.
Background: Alleged Iranian Plot
Previously, Israel passed intelligence to the United States warning that Iran recently devised a fresh plan to assassinate President Donald Trump, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter. This development comes as an already strained ceasefire between Washington and Tehran edges closer to collapse. One source described the warning as a specific plot, distinct from the broader stream of assassination-related intelligence that American agencies had already been monitoring in recent weeks.
