Multiple outlets report that President Trump departs Turkey on an older Air Force One model rather than using a newly refurbished aircraft associated with Qatar, after Secret Service security concerns. The New York Times says security issues related to defensive countermeasures led officials to advise Trump to fly the older plane for at least part of the return trip, while the Qatari-donated jet was sent ahead. CNN similarly reports that the decision stems from concerns and that the older aircraft was used as a precaution. CBS News and ABC News also describe the Secret Service urging Trump to take the older Air Force One. The Hill frames the move as raising questions about how secure the newer Qatari-related aircraft is, noting that the White House downplayed the decision and described it as an “abundance of caution.”
The reported discrepancy centers on whether the newer aircraft has defensive countermeasures comparable to those on the previous model. Sources disagree on additional context, but they broadly align that the aircraft swap is tied to security guidance from the Secret Service during the president’s travel.
