The possible reason why Mr. Trump changed planes when leaving the NATO conference

President Donald Trump on July 7 arrived in Ankara, Türkiye on the new VC-25B aircraft, converted from a Boeing 747-8i nicknamed “flying palace” that Qatar gave to the US last year. However, on July 8, after the end of the NATO summit here, he left on the old VC-25A that had been in operation for nearly 40 years.

Mr. Trump did not clearly explain the reason for changing the plane at that time, only saying that he “wanted nostalgia”. The old plane carrying him left Türkiye, a country that shares a border with Iran, and then arrived at Mildenhall Royal Air Force Base in Suffolk, England. Here, Mr. Trump transferred to a new plane to return to Washington.

New York Times Citing well-informed sources, before Mr. Trump left Ankara, the US Secret Service advised the President to use the old plane as a security measure, in the context of the US escalating conflict with Iran.

Sources added that the new VC-25B, which was converted in a short period of time, is not equipped with some of the security features and communications capabilities of the old Air Force One. The decision to change aircraft was only to prevent risks, not to deal with any specific threat.

Mr. Trump left Türkiye less than a day after the US military conducted a series of large-scale air strikes on Iran in response to attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as right before the US launched a new round of air strikes early on the morning of July 8. Iran then attacked a series of US bases in the Gulf in response.

The US President also seems to acknowledge certain security risks. “I’m always threatened. I’m their number one target,” he said on the plane when asked by reporters if he knew of any threats from Iran that could target his plane.

The US President’s former Air Force One is said to be equipped with a missile approach warning system, as well as an infrared jamming complex that can “blind” incoming air defense missiles, along with a “decoy” defense system that can be deployed to distract the missiles.

The new aircraft is considered more comfortable and spacious, but does not seem to have such advanced defense systems, nor is it capable of aerial refueling. Two former US national security officials told MS Now that this plane is also not equipped with the necessary secure communication system for the US President to quickly manage the increasingly tense situation with Iran.

A former official said that on the old Air Force One from Ankara to Mildenhall Royal Air Force Base, Mr. Trump contacted the military and ordered a second round of air strikes on Iran.

In such tense situations, the old Air Force One can serve as an “Aerial Situation Room”, allowing the President to receive classified information, maintain a secure line of communication with the military and issue orders to generals.

Meanwhile, the VC-25B, which was built for passenger purposes, cannot ensure such command and control capabilities. Its features after conversion have not been fully tested, according to sources.

“This aircraft was built for aesthetics, not for mission performance,” said a former US national security official. “We see its paint color and luxurious leather seats, but we cannot clearly see its capabilities.”