WASHINGTON – In an official announcement from the White House, former President Donald Trump will transition back to the legacy Air Force One aircraft for a four-week period, while the newer jet donated by Qatar undergoes scheduled technical modifications and system improvements. The controversial Qatari-gifted plane, painted in a bold red, white and navy blue livery, has been mired in scrutiny since it first entered service, with questions raised on two key fronts: its origins as a gift from a foreign government, and critical gaps in its defensive capabilities compared to the older fleet.
Controversy over the jet intensified earlier this month, when Trump departed the NATO summit in Istanbul aboard the older, iconic baby blue Air Force One instead of the new aircraft, making an unplanned stop at Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the United Kingdom before transferring to the Qatari-gifted jet. The unscheduled plane swap immediately sparked widespread speculation about undisclosed security flaws in the new aircraft.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a public statement on Monday seeking to quell these concerns, emphasizing that the newly donated plane remains completely safe for presidential travel. “The new Air Force One is perfectly safe for the President’s travels, but will receive additional upgrades and enhancements in the fall which will take approximately one month to complete,” Leavitt said, confirming that the older aircraft will handle all of Trump’s travel during the modification period.
Leavitt’s statement expands on remarks Trump made to reporters Sunday evening as he returned to Washington, where he described the new jet as heading in for major upgrades to bring its capabilities to peak performance. Earlier this month, Trump defended the unplanned UK stop, claiming it was arranged solely to allow U.S. service members stationed at Mildenhall to view the new aircraft. He repeatedly denied that the plane swap was prompted by security vulnerabilities, even as he acknowledged he faces constant threats, noting that he remains the top target of Iran.