President Donald Trump flew from the NATO summit in Ankara back to England on July 8 aboard the older VC-25A Air Force One, not the new Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-8 he arrived in.
The switch was unexpected. Trump had unveiled the Qatari jet, a 14-year-old Boeing 747-8 formerly operated by Qatar’s royal family, with great fanfare at Joint Base Andrews on June 19. He flew it to North Dakota on July 1 and used it for the US 250th anniversary flyover on July 4. But when it came time to leave Turkey, he chose the old plane.
His explanation was characteristically casual. “For old time’s sake,” he told reporters. He also said the new jet had been sent ahead to RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk “so we could show the wonderful service members, as per the entire base’s request.”
The White House offered a different version. “We use every tool at our disposal, including distraction and misdirection, to address those threats,” spokesman Steven Cheung said.
The security question
The switch happened during a major escalation with Iran. The US had launched large strikes on Iranian positions on July 7 and another wave on July 8. Iran shares a border with Turkey. Iranian missiles and drones can reach Turkish territory.
When asked if the Iran tensions drove the swap, Trump said: “I’m No. 1 on the list for killing.” He denied that was the reason but did not provide a convincing alternative.
There are real questions about whether the Qatari jet is safe enough for international travel in a high-threat environment. The Air Force has acknowledged that “several highly complex engineering modifications required for the final Air Force One aircraft were intentionally excluded from the Bridge aircraft.”
The Qatari jet lacks missile detection and countermeasure systems. It has fewer secure communications antennas than a fully equipped Air Force One. Jeremiah Gertler, an analyst at the Teal Group, told reporters the converted plane is “better suited to only work as a domestic aircraft.”
The Air Force insists the conversion was done “without accepting any risk regarding security, safety, or secure communications.” But the actions speak louder than the assurances. Trump flew into Turkey on the new jet and left on the old one.
The “Bribe Force One” controversy
The Qatari jet has been a political flashpoint since Qatar’s ruling family offered it in May 2025. The airframe is valued at roughly $400 million. The US retrofit has reportedly cost another $400 million. Some estimates suggest the total could approach $1 billion.
Senator Chuck Schumer called it a “bribe” and introduced legislation to block it. Legal experts cited the Emoluments Clause of the US Constitution, which prohibits the president from accepting gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval.
Trump defended the gift in his typical fashion: “I could be a stupid person, say ‘No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane’… I thought it was a great gesture.”
He has said he will donate the plane to his presidential library after leaving office.
The old plane’s record
The VC-25A Boeing 747-200 that carried Trump out of Turkey was built around 1990, near the end of the Cold War. It is hardened against nuclear blast effects, equipped with anti-missile countermeasures, and carries an onboard operating room. It has air-to-air refueling capability, though no president has ever used it in flight.
The aircraft first flew President George H.W. Bush in 1990 and served as an in-air command center for President George W. Bush on September 11, 2001. The Air Force says both VC-25As will remain in service until the new purpose-built Boeing VC-25Bs arrive, expected around 2028.
The old plane’s transponder was temporarily disabled after takeoff from Turkey, a standard security measure in high-risk environments but unusual for a departure from a NATO ally.
By the time Trump landed at RAF Mildenhall, the new Qatari jet was waiting for him on the tarmac. He boarded it for the final leg back to Joint Base Andrews. The switch, whatever its true reason, lasted exactly one flight.