Scare Force One? Security questions swirl over Trump’s new plane

Lead

President Donald Trump is facing questions about the security of his new Air Force One, a Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar, after he took an older jet for a return trip from a NATO summit in Turkey. The switch, reportedly advised by the Secret Service amid renewed hostilities with Iran, has raised concerns about whether the new plane has sufficient defensive measures.

Coverage Comparison

The new aircraft, which Trump flew to Ankara on its maiden international trip, has been described as a "flying palace" and was retrofitted at an estimated cost of $400 million. However, according to multiple reports, it lacks the advanced anti-missile capabilities of the older Air Force One, which is equipped with systems to blind and mislead incoming missiles.

The Secret Service reportedly urged Trump to fly on the older jet when leaving Türkiye, citing security precautions related to renewed hostilities with Iran. The White House defended the new plane's safety, with Communications Director Steven Cheung saying in a statement that it is "a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff."

Trump himself dismissed security concerns, initially saying the switch was so troops could tour the plane at a British airbase. He later said he was "number one on the kill list for Iran" and joked about the "sleazebags" on a dangerous flight. On Sunday, as he returned to Washington on the new jet, Trump said the plane would soon be sent away for upgrades, admitting it could be "maxed out" with security features.

The reporting has been widely covered by ABC Australia, Dawn, The Guardian, the Jerusalem Post, and the South China Morning Post, among others. The New York Times' report on the security concerns led to subpoenas from the Trump administration to several of its journalists, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Key Claims

• The Secret Service advised Trump to fly on the older Air Force One out of Türkiye due to security precautions linked to hostilities with Iran.
• The new Air Force One, gifted by Qatar and dubbed the "flying palace," lacks certain defensive capabilities, including advanced antimissile systems.
• Trump acknowledged the new plane's limitations and said it will be sent for upgrades to "max it out" with security features, with an estimated completion in about a month.
• The White House defended the plane's safety, stating that high-level security protocols are in place.

Perspectives

Trump administration: President Trump denied that security concerns drove the initial switch, attributing it to logistical reasons, while later acknowledging the need for upgrades to the new plane. The White House maintained the aircraft's safety is robust.

Secret Service (via reports): Reportedly advised the switch to the older plane due to security precautions amid heightened tensions with Iran.

New York Times: Report that the new plane lacks the same security countermeasures as the older jet, and its journalists received subpoenas after the story was published. The Times' lawyer, David McCraw, criticized the subpoenas as an affront to press freedom.