Trump swaps to old Air Force One after NATO summit amid Iranian threat

Donald Trump Air Force One Iranian threat F‑35 Turkey NATO summit

U.S. President Donald Trump left the NATO summit in Ankara on the older Air Force One instead of the newly delivered Boeing 747‑8 that Qatar had gifted him. U.S. officials said a credible threat from forces linked to Iran was targeting the president and the aircraft, and that Israeli intelligence had warned of an Iranian plan to strike Trump.

During the same trip Trump told reporters that Turkey is a "good ally" and that no one tells the United States what weapons it may sell to Ankara, reiterating his openness to supplying F‑35 fighter jets. He also announced a pause in U.S. strikes against Iran to give diplomatic talks a chance, warning that the United States is ready to resume "very strong" military action if negotiations fail. In an interview he said he would ask Russian President Vladimir Putin whether Russian satellites are aiding Iran.

These statements were reported by multiple outlets in the United States, Greece, Germany, Vietnam, Hungary and elsewhere.

Entities: Air Force One · Boeing 747‑8 · Donald Trump · Iran · Qatar · Secret Service · Turkey

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 4 SOURCES] Trump survived a July 13 2024 shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, where shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks wounded his ear and killed a visitor. (All listed articles)
[● 10 SOURCES] Iran planned a missile attack on President Trump's aircraft. (CBS report cited in multiple articles)
[● 10 SOURCES] The new Boeing 747‑8 lacks the advanced defensive systems of the older Air Force One. (Secret Service assessment cited by media)
[● 4 SOURCES] Donald Trump was scheduled to travel to the NATO summit in Turkey on a new Qatar‑built jumbo aircraft. (All listed articles)
[● 4 SOURCES] On September 15 2024, a potential attack at Trump’s West Palm Beach, Florida golf course was foiled by Secret Service agents. (All listed articles)
[● 4 SOURCES] The White House has rejected claims that the new presidential aircraft is unsafe. (All listed articles)
[● 10 SOURCES] Secret Service ordered a change from the new Boeing 747‑8 to the older Air Force One because of a credible Iranian threat to President Trump. (New York Times and CBS reports)
[● 10 SOURCES] The New York Times reported the aircraft switch and the credible Iranian threat. (Multiple articles cite the New York Times)
[● 10 SOURCES] President Trump attended the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, in early July 2024. (Articles referencing the summit)
[● 10 SOURCES] Trump departed Turkey on the older Air Force One and returned to the United States. (Multiple articles note the return flight)
[● 2 SOURCES] Israel shared intelligence with the United States indicating Iran was planning to target President Trump. (2e19f4e6-1768-4a0f-bcf9-19667ca87493, bd3185d7-c27a-45d2-ab66-cd2b15a3a08f)
[● 2 SOURCES] Trump said he would ask Russian President Vladimir Putin whether Russian satellites are assisting Iran. (57c3f88c-07c7-42d7-b2b4-5f5206cc51d1, d4a71a3b-8c15-4a57-8a55-8a1cce884b69)