White House Grounds Qatar-Gifted Air Force One Over Iran Plot Fears as $400 Million Retrofit Faces Scrutiny
Updated
Updated · Forbes · Jul 10
White House Grounds Qatar-Gifted Air Force One Over Iran Plot Fears as $400 Million Retrofit Faces Scrutiny
3 articles · Updated · Forbes · Jul 10
Summary
Trump left Turkey earlier this week on the older Air Force One after the White House sidelined the Qatar-gifted jet over security concerns tied to Israeli intelligence about an Iranian assassination plot.
10 months after the Air Force began classified upgrades, officials still have not detailed what protections were installed, even as experts say a full presidential retrofit can take years.
Cheung said the plane has “high-level security protocols” and attacked reports questioning its readiness, while Trump said in Ankara that he is “number one on the kill list for Iran.”
Less than $400 million is the Air Force’s estimate for the work, but aviation experts and Democratic lawmakers have put the likely total near $1 billion and questioned funding a jet slated for Trump’s library in 2029.