US President Donald Trump left Turkey after the NATO summit aboard the old Air Force One, while his new Qatari-gifted aircraft flew ahead to Britain, where he switched planes for the trip back to Washington.
Trump said on Truth Social that he was sending the new jet to Mildenhall airbase in Britain so US service members would have a “chance to tour the Aircraft.”
“Everybody is so excited, and we thought that they should be the first. For old time’s sake, we’ll be taking the former Air Force One, from Turkey,” Trump wrote.
But the switch during the new aircraft’s first foreign trip fueled speculation about whether it was linked to security concerns, particularly as the United States carried out fresh strikes against Iran, which borders Turkey.
The New York Times reported late Wednesday that the switch was requested by the US Secret Service “as a security precaution.” Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper said the new plane lacks some capabilities of the older aircraft but that the decision was not prompted by a specific threat.
Reporters traveling with Trump were told to keep the window shades closed in the press cabin during takeoff, without explanation.
Trump sidestepped questions at a news conference about safety but referred to previous alleged Iranian assassination plots.
“I speak about it a lot because the life of a president is very dangerous,” he said.
Later, aboard the new Air Force One, Trump told a reporter, “You’re probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleazebags we have to deal with,” an apparent reference to Iran. He later referred to Iranians as “sick people.”
Asked whether he was aware of a credible threat from Iran, Trump said: “I have a threat all the time. I’m number one on their list.”
Qatar’s royal family donated the Boeing 747-8 last year after Trump complained about the condition of the two aging jets that have served as Air Force One since 1990.
The new plane was rapidly retrofitted and equipped with security features before making its first flight with Trump on July 1. It has a red, white and navy blue color scheme, replacing the previous white and light blue.
Two new Boeing aircraft designed to serve as Air Force One are due to be delivered later this decade after repeated delays.
The Qatari gift has drawn criticism from ethics and security experts, who have raised concerns about a foreign government donating an aircraft worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the US president.
© Agence France-Presse