Air Force One Faces Security Doubts Amid Trump Concerns

WHO:

USA Today - Eric Trump, President Donald Trump's son, overseeing the library's planning.

CNN - President Donald Trump

Forbes - Steven Cheung, White House communications director

Forbes - Troy E. Meink, secretary of the Air Force

Forbes - Andrew P. Hunter, Biden administration Air Force official

Alternet - Brigadier General John Teichert

Alternet - Carol Leonnig, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter

WHAT:

CNN - Trump stated, “Air Force One could be a ‘dangerous plane because of the sleaze bags we have to deal with,’” shortly after takeoff on the older jet.

CNN - Trump claimed he used the older jet “for old time’s sake” while also stating he is “number one on the kill list for Iran.”

Forbes - Steven Cheung, White House communications director, criticized a report as “complete Fake News” and called Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Carol Leonnig a “liar” and a “complete fraud.”

Forbes - The Air Force began security upgrades to the Qatari jet in September, just 10 months before its first flight.

Alternet - Brigadier General John Teichert stated, “No matter what you do to retrofit a Qatari jet, it's never going to have the defensive capabilities of a tailor-made Air Force One built from scratch.”

USA Today - Eric Trump suggested that a different Air Force One, specifically the older plane with the 29000 tail number, will be featured at his father's presidential library, rather than the Qatari-gifted plane.

CNN - Trump boarded a 35-year-old modified Boeing 747 instead of the newly converted Air Force One.

CNN - The new Air Force One was introduced with much fanfare but raised security concerns.

Forbes - The White House grounded Trump’s new Air Force One jet over security concerns.

Forbes - The Air Force began security upgrades to the jet in September, just 10 months before its first flight.

Forbes - Estimated costs for renovations to the jet range from $400 million to around $1 billion.

Alternet - Trump was forced to use the old presidential plane due to a credible Iranian assassination threat.

WHERE:

CNN - Trump departed from Turkey.

Forbes - The first flight of the new Air Force One was to North Dakota.

Forbes - The new Air Force One was gifted by Qatar.

WHEN:

USA Today - The two new Air Force One jets currently under construction are expected to be completed in 2028.

CNN - Trump made his first trip on the new Air Force One on July 3.

CNN - The new Air Force One was unveiled on July 17.

Forbes - The upgrades to the jet were reported to cost “probably less than $400 million” last year.

Forbes - The plane is planned to be donated to Trump’s presidential library in 2029.

WHY:

Forbes - Some experts voiced concerns that the administration did not allocate enough time to complete all security renovations, with Richard Aboulafia stating that expected renovations could take until the 2030s.

USA Today - Rep. Joe Courtney filed an amendment to a defense bill aimed at preventing the transfer of the Qatari aircraft to Trump’s library, citing concerns over taxpayer investment and the aircraft's remaining service life.

CNN - The decision to use the older jet was made after receiving intelligence from Israel about a potential assassination plot from Iran.

Forbes - Experts questioned whether the new jet has all the proper security protocols.

HOW:

CNN - Aviation experts noted that the new plane appears to lack external modifications associated with a type of directional infrared missile defense system.

Alternet - Brigadier General John Teichert stated that retrofitting the Qatari jet will never match the defensive capabilities of a tailor-made Air Force One built from scratch.

CNN - The new Air Force One was converted on an unusually compressed timeline.

Forbes - Some renovations would likely include dismantling and reassembling the jet to ensure there are no listening devices or spyware.

Alternet - The new Air Force One lacks key features like mid-air refueling and missile-defense systems.

(UPDATED July 11, 2026 22:15 UTC)

President Trump recently expressed concerns about the safety of Air Force One, calling it a "dangerous plane" due to the "sleaze bags" he feels he has to deal with, while also mentioning he used an older jet for "old time's sake" and claimed he is "number one on the kill list for Iran." Meanwhile, White House communications director Steven Cheung dismissed a report as "complete Fake News," targeting Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Carol Leonnig with accusations of being a "liar" and a "complete fraud." Additionally, experts have raised alarms about the security upgrades to the Qatari jet, suggesting that the administration may not have allocated enough time to complete necessary renovations, with some renovations potentially extending into the 2030s.

(UPDATED July 11, 2026 10:20 UTC)

Eric Trump, the son of Trump, is overseeing the planning for his father's presidential library and has suggested that an older Air Force One, specifically the plane with the tail number 29000, will be featured there instead of the Qatari-gifted aircraft. Meanwhile, Rep. Joe Courtney has filed an amendment to a defense bill to prevent the transfer of the Qatari jet to the library, raising concerns about taxpayer investment and the aircraft's remaining service life. Brigadier General John Teichert emphasized that retrofitting the Qatari jet will never match the defensive capabilities of a purpose-built Air Force One designed from the ground up.

(UPDATED July 10, 2026 23:20 UTC)

President Trump boarded a modified Boeing 747 for his recent trip after the White House grounded the new Air Force One due to security concerns stemming from a credible Iranian assassination threat. The new jet, which was gifted by Qatar and unveiled with much fanfare, is undergoing security upgrades that began last September, with costs estimated between $400 million and $1 billion. Experts have raised questions about whether the new plane has the necessary security protocols, as it reportedly lacks essential features like mid-air refueling and missile-defense systems.