Multiple reports say the U.S. Secret Service advised President Donald Trump not to use the newly acquired, Qatar-donated Air Force One when he departed Ankara after the NATO summit. According to CBS News, the president instead used an older Air Force One for the trip out of Turkey. The rationale reported by CBS is that the Secret Service raised possible security concerns about using the Qatar-donated aircraft for departure, leading to the decision to swap planes.
The New York Times similarly reports that a Secret Service request led Trump to use the older aircraft and that the change adds to questions surrounding the retrofitting and readiness of the newer plane. Across the accounts, sources briefed on the situation describe the switch as a precaution prompted by the Secret Service, with the outcome being that Trump did not take the Qatar-donated jet on the outbound leg from Turkey.
The reports do not provide specific details of the alleged security issue or what aspects of the Qatar-donated aircraft are still under review, but they consistently link the plane change to Secret Service guidance and the broader scrutiny of the newer aircraft’s status.
