White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has defended the safety of the new Qatari-donated Air Force One, saying it is “perfectly safe for the president’s travels,” as details emerged about President Trump’s secret plane swap during his departure from Turkey in July due to a credible Iranian threat.
Trump secretly switched from the new Air Force One to a smaller C-32A military aircraft on July 8 using an elaborate ruse involving a catering truck, according to the Washington Post and confirmed by NBC News and other outlets. Officials determined there was a credible Iranian threat to fire a missile at the presidential aircraft as it departed from the NATO summit in Ankara.
The incident raised questions about the security capabilities of the new $400 million Boeing 747-8 jet, which was delivered to Trump in June as a temporary replacement for the aging Air Force One until next-generation planes arrive in 2028. Trump had earlier announced he would depart Turkey on the older Air Force One “for old time’s sake,” but the Secret Service urged him to switch to the unmarked C-32A after intelligence assessments of the Iranian threat.
On July 20, Leavitt issued a statement assuring the public of the aircraft’s readiness. “The new Air Force One is perfectly safe for the president’s travels, but will receive additional upgrades and enhancements in the fall which will take approximately one month to complete,” she said. During that upgrade period, Trump would continue flying on the older Air Force One aircraft, she added.
The plane swap operation itself was extraordinary in scope. Journalists and some White House staff boarded the decoy Air Force One and were told to close their window shades, unaware that Trump had been transferred to a different aircraft. The C-32A used the call sign “Reach 18” instead of “Air Force One” to maintain the ruse, while the plane carrying reporters continued using “AF1.” Trump then flew to the United Kingdom en route to the United States, where he reboarded the legacy Air Force One before transferring to the new Qatari jet for the final leg to Washington.
Trump confirmed the plane swap on August 11, telling reporters the Secret Service and military made the decision. “I guess there was a threat out there,” he said, adding that he believed the aircraft he actually flew on was “at greater risk” because it was unmarked and less likely to be identified as the presidential plane.
The New York Times previously reported security concerns about the Qatari-gifted jet, including questions about its missile-defense capabilities compared to older Air Force One aircraft. Older Air Force One planes have laser technology to blind incoming missiles, sources told CBS News, though it remains unclear what systems the new aircraft possesses. The Justice Department subsequently investigated illegal leaks related to those reports, and several New York Times journalists were subpoenaed to testify under oath.
The incident underscored the delicate balance between presidential security and transparency. The Committee to Protect Journalists noted that reporters should be informed of credible security threats so they can make informed decisions about their safety. Trump responded to questions about why journalists were told to lower window shades on the decoy flight, saying, “Because you’re probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleazebags we have to deal with.”
Sources
- BBC News — Trump’s plane swap via catering truck, Leavitt’s statement on new Air Force One safety, Iranian threat details
- NBC News — Trump confirms plane swap, Leavitt’s July 20 statement on aircraft safety and upgrade timeline
- Washington Post — Original reporting on secret plane switch and C-32A transfer method
- CBS News — Iranian missile threat confirmation, missile-defense technology details on older aircraft
- New York Times — Security concerns about Qatari-gifted aircraft and journalist subpoenas
