Flying on Air Force One, unwittingly under threat – and without Trump

During the July NATO Leaders’ Summit in Ankara, President Trump unexpectedly changed his travel plans, opting not to fly home on a new presidential plane gifted by Qatar. Instead, he sent the new aircraft to Mildenhall Air Force Base in England for service members to tour, while he would fly on an older Air Force One. This decision, coupled with Trump's repeated mentions of Iranian assassination attempts, led the accompanying press pool to speculate about a potential security threat, especially since the Qatari-provided plane reportedly lacked certain safety features. Reporters were instructed to close window shades, an unusual request, and later learned this was to conceal Trump's covert departure from the plane via a catering truck to board a different government jet due to a security concern. Upon landing in England, Trump performed a seemingly cinematic maneuver, walking from one plane to the Qatari-provided Air Force One, which he then boarded. He later visited the press cabin, denying security concerns were a factor for the plane swap but acknowledging persistent threats from Iran, stating, "But if I go, you go. Right?" It was only revealed a month later that Trump had not traveled with the press to Mildenhall at all, and a third plane was involved in the operation.