Image: from Jonospect X @jonospect
By Open Chronicle with Agencies
U.S. President Donald Trump departed Türkiye following the NATO Summit in Ankara aboard the long-serving Air Force One, while his recently acquired Boeing 747, donated by Qatar’s royal family, was sent separately to the United Kingdom.
Announcing the decision on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the new aircraft would fly to RAF Mildenhall, allowing American service members stationed there an opportunity to tour the presidential jet before it continues future official duties.
“Everybody is so excited, and we thought that they should be the first. For old times’ sake, we’ll be taking the former Air Force One from Turkey,” Trump wrote.
The move came after the Qatari-gifted aircraft completed its maiden overseas trip carrying the president, prompting speculation over why Trump chose not to fly home aboard the new plane.
🇺🇸 President Donald #Trump departs from #Turkiye after attending the @NATO summit.
He arrived in Turkey on the new AF1; gifted by #Qatar with its new colour scheme.
However on his way back the original Air Force One was used; probably because of its advanced security systems,… pic.twitter.com/4686DE2owU
— Shafek Koreshe (@shafeKoreshe) July 8, 2026
Security Questions Emerge
The decision immediately sparked questions about whether security considerations influenced the change, particularly after Trump issued fresh warnings against Iran during the NATO summit. Türkiye shares a border with Iran, and regional tensions remained elevated following renewed exchanges between Washington and Tehran.
Asked directly during a press conference whether the aircraft change was linked to security concerns, Trump avoided giving a clear answer.
Instead, he referred to previous alleged Iranian assassination threats against him.
“I speak about it a lot because the life of a president is very dangerous,” Trump said.
When pressed again on why he would not return aboard the new aircraft, the president replied that it was being flown to Europe so military personnel could view it.
“It’s flying to Europe to one of the big bases, two or three of the big bases, where we can show it to the people. And we’ll be going home by normal methods,” he said.
Qatar’s Gift Continues to Draw Scrutiny
The Boeing 747, reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars, was donated by Qatar’s royal family after Trump repeatedly criticised the ageing Air Force One fleet currently used by the White House.
The aircraft underwent a rapid retrofit before entering presidential service, completing its first official flight with Trump on July 1. It also features a redesigned exterior with a red, white, and navy blue colour scheme, replacing the traditional white and light blue livery associated with previous presidential aircraft.
Despite its introduction into service, the aircraft has continued to attract criticism from lawmakers, ethics experts, and security analysts.
Opponents have questioned the constitutional implications of accepting such a valuable gift from a foreign government, while others have expressed concern about whether the aircraft’s security systems provide the same level of protection as the highly specialised Air Force One fleet operated by the U.S. Air Force.
Future Presidential Fleet Still on the Way
The temporary use of the Qatari aircraft comes as Boeing continues work on two new VC,25B presidential aircraft that are intended to permanently replace the existing Air Force One fleet.
The programme has experienced repeated delays over recent years, with deliveries now expected later this decade.
Until then, the United States is expected to continue operating its existing presidential aircraft alongside the recently introduced Boeing 747 as the administration evaluates its long-term role.