Donald Trump switches to older Air Force One after Iranian threat at NATO summit

During the NATO summit in Ankara, U.S. intelligence identified a credible threat from Iran‑aligned militants aimed at President Donald Trump. Secret Service officials advised the president to abandon the Qatar‑gifted Boeing 747‑8 and depart Turkey on the older Air Force One, which is equipped with more advanced defensive systems.

Trump had arrived in Ankara on the new aircraft, but after the warning he left the summit on the legacy plane, later boarding the newer jet again in the United Kingdom for the flight back to Washington. The Qatar‑donated plane reportedly lacks the same missile‑deflection and radar‑jamming capabilities as the older model. U.S. officials said the new aircraft will undergo upgrades to address those gaps.

The New York Times also reported that the White House declined to comment on the specific intelligence, while an investigation into the leak of the information was launched, requiring several journalists to testify before a grand jury.