Donald Trump Switches to Older Air Force One Amid Iranian Assassination Threat

U.S. officials said Israeli intelligence warned of a fresh Iranian plot to assassinate President Donald Trump. The warning prompted the Secret Service to advise Trump to use the older, hardened Air Force One for part of his return from the NATO summit in Turkey, rather than the newly converted Qatari‑gifted jet. Trump denied a security motive, but reports noted that the new aircraft may lack certain defensive and communications capabilities.

The switch sparked media scrutiny. The Wall Street Journal, CNN and several Indian outlets reported on the alleged plot and the president’s statement that Iran had placed him at the top of its hit list, vowing massive retaliation if an attempt were made. In the wake of the coverage, the Department of Justice issued federal grand‑jury subpoenas to four New York Times reporters who had written about the aircraft change, alleging possible violations of federal law. Press‑freedom groups condemned the subpoenas as intimidation.

Experts warned that the accelerated conversion of the new Air Force One could have left critical security systems incomplete, raising questions about its readiness for future threats.