President Donald Trump switched from his older, secure Air Force One to the Qatari aircraft at Mildenhall airbase in Britain after a security concern prompted him to depart Turkey in the older plane, Israel Hayom's Ariel Kahana reported Thursday, citing the New York Times. Trump claimed the reason for the switch was to show the Qatari plane to American soldiers, a description Kahana called 'an obviously unreliable excuse.'
On Thursday morning, Israel Hayom's Ariel Kahana, citing the New York Times, reported that President Donald Trump switched to the Qatari aircraft at Mildenhall airbase in the UK after departing Turkey in his older, more secure Air Force One due to a security concern. According to Kahana, Trump claimed the reason for the switch was to show the Qatari plane to American soldiers, a description Kahana called 'an obviously unreliable excuse.' This adds a new layer to the story that has been tracking since Wednesday evening.
The sequence began Wednesday evening at 19:30 Jerusalem, when Trump first said he may be assassinated, calling himself Iran's 'number one' target (The Zioneer, version 1). Shortly after, he did not deny changing his flight plans due to security concerns (version 2). Reports then confirmed he departed Ankara on his old aircraft (version 3), and Trump later hinted the change was linked to Iran threats (version 4). The New York Times then reported that the Secret Service had urged the switch due to security concerns, though Trump denied it was security-related, calling it a precautionary measure (version 5). The Zioneer reiterated that report at 06:15 Thursday morning. The corroboration evolved from a single report (i24NEWS) to multiple newsrooms citing the NYT and on-record quotes from Trump.
The Qatari plane, a $400 million gift, was presented by Trump in New York on June 20 and entered operational readiness on June 23, as The Zioneer reported. Trump's first flight on the aircraft was on July 1, when he commented on Iran's nuclear disarmament. The security concerns come amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict, with heightened tensions and military operations.
It remains unclear what exactly prompted the security concern that led to the switch, and whether Trump's explanation about showing the plane to soldiers is intended to downplay the threat. The New York Times report did not specify the nature of the threat, and Trump's denial of a security-related reason has been inconsistent.
8 developments
- StrongTrump displays Qatar-gifted interim Air Force One in New York
- DevelopingTrump's interim Air Force One enters operational readiness
- StrongTrump, before maiden flight on Qatari jet: Iran nuclear disarmament 'moving along well'
- DevelopingTrump returns to Washington from Camp David, keeps distance from reporters
Source and signal
- Internal intake