Trump Unexpectedly Switches Back to Old Air Force One

Thursday, July 09, 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 03:33 PM | 16 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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The Secret Service is said to have urged President Trump to avoid flying the Qatari-donated jet out of Turkey after hostilities resumed with Iran.

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-- The New York Times (@nytimes.com) 9:00 PM Â· Jul 8, 2026

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More from the article ...

... 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

Query: will those fake books on Trump Farce One make it into the Trump Library and House of Horrors? Asking for some MAGA folks who like books without words...

#11 | Posted by catdog at 2026-07-09 04:24 PM | Reply

"WHAT's the difference between Vietnam and Iran?

Trump had an Exit Strategery for Vietnam!"

(Thank you, thank you! I'll be here all week, pls tip your waitress.)

#12 | Posted by Corky at 2026-07-09 04:57 PM | Reply

Nice.

#13 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-07-09 04:58 PM | Reply

Corky always has an eye on the pretty waitresses.

#14 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-07-09 05:05 PM | Reply

#14

Now, now... Don't be catty!

#15 | Posted by Corky at 2026-07-09 05:14 PM | Reply

#16 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-07-09 05:55 PM | Reply | Funny: 1