Trump Ditches Qatari 747-8 for Older Air Force One as Iran Tensions Expose Security Gaps
Updated
Updated · The Daily Beast · Jul 10
Trump Ditches Qatari 747-8 for Older Air Force One as Iran Tensions Expose Security Gaps
3 articles · Updated · The Daily Beast · Jul 10
Summary
Trump returned from the NATO summit on the older presidential jet after using the Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-8 outbound, with officials citing security concerns on the flight home from Turkey.
Two former national security officials said the 747-8 lacks secure communications, hardening and military defenses needed to manage a conflict, a sharper risk as the Iran ceasefire unraveled this week.
Retired Brig. Gen. John Teichert said a retrofitted Qatari plane cannot match a purpose-built Air Force One’s sensors, active defenses and antimissile capabilities.
The switch undercut Trump’s earlier claim that the change was for troop visits at Mildenhall rather than security, though aide Steven Cheung said the Qatari jet had high-level safety protocols.
The episode adds to scrutiny of the gifted aircraft as the U.S. still awaits 2 newly built Air Force Ones designed from scratch for presidential defense.