politics
Trump flew new aircraft to Turkey NATO summit then used older plane for part of return trip
President Trump flew the new Air Force One to a NATO summit in Turkey, then used the older model to reach RAF Mildenhall before switching back for the final leg to Joint Base Andrews. The White House described the aircraft changes as a deliberate security measure.
Jul 9, 1:54 PM·1m read4 sources
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Security measurePlane switch
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President Trump flew the new Air Force One to a NATO summit in Turkey then switched to the older model for part of the return trip before switching back for the final leg home. The new aircraft entered service on July 3. Trump used the older model to reach the U.S.
Air Force base in Mildenhall, England. He then returned to the newer aircraft for the trip back to the United States. Trump posted on Truth Social that he wanted to show the new plane to service members at the base.
Reporters traveling on the older aircraft were instructed to keep window blinds closed during the flight from Turkey. The White House said the switch was a deliberate security measure. Communications director Steven Cheung stated that the new aircraft carries advanced security features.
The White House statement said the president faces multiple threats and that officials employ every available tool, including misdirection, to address them. The New York Times reported the change followed Secret Service advice and was not tied to a specific threat. Trump has publicly stated he is on an Iranian kill list and has described the conflict with Iran as ongoing.
