Didn’t get on his new plane today: US President Donald Trump.Image: keystone
July 8, 2026, 8:59 p.mJuly 8, 2026, 10:02 p.m
US President Donald Trump will not travel in his new Air Force One donated by Qatar after the NATO summit in Turkey – and has thereby fueled speculation about the safety of the machine.
The Republican initially announced on his Truth Social platform that he would travel from Turkey “for the sake of old times” with an older plane to his next stop, the US Mildenhall Air Force Base in Great Britain. The new presidential plane should still fly there – members of the Air Force should be able to view the aircraft. “A short flight that is absolutely worth it so that our great military heroes can admire our beautiful new addition to the Air Force fleet.”
At a press conference in Ankara before his departure, Trump was asked why he would not fly on the new Air Force One. The journalist referred to speculation about security concerns in connection with the Iran war. In addition, the president himself has said several times that possible assassination attempts could be successful. Trump responded to the question: “I am number 1 on Iran’s death list.”
“Air Force One” stands on the tarmac at Ankara International Airport in Ankara, Türkiye.Image: keystone
Are insufficient defense capabilities the reason?
The US broadcaster CNN, meanwhile, quoted a person familiar with the matter as saying that questions had arisen about the “capabilities” of the new aircraft in international use. This primarily refers to defensive options in the event of an attack.
The Boeing 747 aircraft is reportedly worth around $400 million. Despite sharp criticism, Trump accepted it as a gift from the Gulf Emirate of Qatar in May 2025. Democrats spoke of “blatant corruption.” Trump, however, defended the move as a cost-effective solution to modernizing the aging presidential fleet and has raved about the jumbo jet several times.
On the website of the flight service provider Flightradar24 it could be seen in the evening how the new Qatari aircraft was already on its approach to land at the US military air base at Mildenhall. (sda/dpa)