Trump unexpectedly switches back to old Air Force One

Wednesday, July 08, 2026

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was leaving Turkey aboard an older Air Force One aircraft rather than a recently renovated Qatari-donated jet, an unexpected switch that renewed scrutiny of the costly, fast-tracked retrofit.

Posted by lamplighter at 06:39 PM | 10 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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... The trip to Turkey, the first international travel for the new plane, took place as hostilities escalated with Iran, a country that borders Turkey.

The switch follows months of scrutiny over the luxury gift intended to serve as a temporary replacement while Boeing struggles to deliver long-delayed next-generation Air Force One planes.

Critics questioned the cost, security and pace of the retrofit.

Trump said on Truth Social that he would use an older Air Force One plane "for old time's sake" to fly to RAF Mildenhall in Britain while the new plane stops at the same base so U.S. service members stationed there can tour the aircraft.

The new plane is a Boeing 747 gifted to the United States by Qatar last year and refitted by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies ...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-07-08 06:43 PM | Reply

Ukraine would have shot his fat ass down.

#2 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-07-08 07:10 PM | Reply

I smell a lemon.

#3 | Posted by morris at 2026-07-08 07:32 PM | Reply

I read that the bribe aircraft was not secure enough for international travel. It's just for use in US airspace.

#4 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-07-08 07:33 PM | Reply

His diaper probably burst opened up and now they have to sanitize the entire plane.

#5 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-07-08 07:48 PM | Reply | Funny: 1 | Newsworthy 3

So we spent the money and gas to fly two planes across the globe so this bloated pile of festering s*&^ could test out his garbage pile bribe plane?

#6 | Posted by jpw at 2026-07-09 12:05 AM | Reply

could test out his garbage pile bribe plane?

Apparently they were giving tours of Bribe Force One when it was on the ground.

#7 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-07-09 12:18 AM | Reply

So Trump's Qatari "No, Pleased To Be Taking The Bribe, Sirrrr" Air Force One isn't first for purpose?

"Everything Trump touches dies."
Rick Wilson

To which the corollary is: "But only after Trump ensh#tidies it first."

#8 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-07-09 07:17 AM | Reply

That's "ensh#ttifies"

#9 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-07-09 07:17 AM | Reply

Air Force One isn't first for purpose?

Bribe Force One has a service life of three years. It makes no sense to spent $Billions to retrofit it to full presidential transport capacity.

#10 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-07-09 12:14 PM | Reply