Secret Service Advised Donald Trump to Use Older Air Force One Over New Aircraft from Qatar

Security concerns led the Secret Service to advise Donald Trump to use an older Air Force One when leaving Turkey, rather than the new Boeing 747 donated by Qatar. Sources familiar with the matter indicated that while the White House insists the new plane has high-level security features, the accelerated conversion timeline raised questions about its readiness. Experts questioned whether the massive, rushed upgrade could fully harden the aircraft for high-threat operations, such as those near Iran. While the administration maintains the new plane prioritizes mission over aesthetics, some experts suggested the effort required years of modification. Instead, Donald Trump departed in the older jet, which possesses known sophisticated military defenses. The incident highlighted ongoing scrutiny regarding the equipment and process for the upgraded aircraft. Previously, the plane was hailed as revolutionary, with Donald Trump saying it was "very unique." However, the differing security advisories suggest that the complex process of retrofitting the Qatari-gifted jet may have sacrificed necessary defensive capabilities compared to established federal standards.