President Donald Trump switched to an older Air Force One jet after Iranian proxies posed a credible threat to his safety.

President Donald Trump switched to an older Air Force One jet during his departure from Turkey after the administration detected a credible threat from Iranian proxy forces. While the president arrived in Ankara on a new Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar, the Secret Service recommended a swap for the return trip because the new aircraft lacks advanced defenses against heat-seeking missiles. The administration announced that the new jet is perfectly safe but will undergo a month of upgrades this fall to be "maxed out" with full defensive capabilities. During this period, President Donald Trump will continue to use the legacy aircraft. The new plane, which costs $400 million, was intended to serve as a temporary replacement while Boeing works on long-delayed next-generation jets. While Democrats have criticized the high cost of retrofitting the Qatari gift, Senate Republicans successfully blocked a bill that would have halted taxpayer funding for the upgrades. President Donald Trump remains focused on the ongoing conflict with Iran, stating that the U.S. military is ready to decimate the country if Tehran attempts an assassination.

Sources