Trump explains why he switched back to old Air Force One from Qatari-gifted jet after leaving NATO summit 09.07.2026

President Donald Trump explained his decision to switch from a $400 million Qatari-gifted Boeing 747 back to an older Boeing VC-25A after attending the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. While Trump claimed the switch was for "old time’s sake," sources suggest the move was a security precaution urged by the Secret Service due to heightened tensions and resumed hostilities with Iran. Concerns have been raised regarding the new jet's lack of certain missile detection and countermeasures systems compared to its predecessor. Trump addressed these fears by stating he is "No. 1 on [Iran's] list" and mentioned the necessity of closing window blinds during flight. Despite security scrutiny and potential ethical investigations regarding the gift, the White House maintains the aircraft is state-of-the-art and fully equipped to ensure the President's safety during his mission.













