White House Rejects Speculation Over Trump’s Return Flight, Saying the Aircraft Change Was a Deliberate Security Measure to Counter Credible Threats Against the President
The White House said on Thursday that President Donald Trump’s decision to depart the NATO summit in Turkey aboard the former Air Force One was part of a deliberate strategy of “distraction and misdirection” aimed at addressing security threats against him.
The aircraft change came after Trump said he was at the top of Iran’s kill list following renewed conflict between the United States and Iran. The switch occurred just one week after the president completed his first flight aboard the new Air Force One.
“As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal—including distraction and misdirection—to address those threats,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a statement.
Cheung also defended the security capabilities of the new Air Force One, a $400 million Boeing 747-8 luxury jet gifted to the federal government by the Qatari government last year, following reports that the Secret Service had advised the president to use the former Air Force One during Wednesday’s trip.
“The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff,” Cheung said.
In a social media post on Thursday, Trump said the new Air Force One was flown to RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom to allow U.S. military personnel to tour the aircraft.
“For old time’s sake, we’ll be taking the former Air Force One, from Turkey to Mildenhall, a short trip that is totally worth doing in order to give our Great Military Heroes a chance to appreciate our beautiful new addition to the Air Force Fleet!” Trump wrote.
In another social media post on July 8, Trump confirmed that he had arrived at RAF Mildenhall and reunited with the new aircraft. He said the stop represented “virtually no deviation” from the return route to the United States after attending the NATO summit.
Trump later departed RAF Mildenhall for the United States aboard the new Air Force One.
Speaking at a news conference during the NATO summit on Wednesday, Trump addressed what he described as threats against his life from Iran following U.S. retaliatory strikes launched after Iran targeted commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the week.
“I’m number one on the kill list for Iran,” Trump said.
Trump also declared that the temporary ceasefire agreement with Iran had effectively ended after the United States and Iran exchanged strikes on Tuesday.
“To me, I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore. They’re scum,” Trump said, later adding, “As far as I’m concerned, it’s just a waste of time dealing with them.”
The Epoch Times said it had contacted the White House for additional comment but had not received a response before publication.
Renewed Conflict With Iran
The U.S. military launched precision strikes against more than 80 Iranian targets on Tuesday, describing the operation as a response to what it called a “clear and dangerous violation of the ceasefire” by Iran. The strikes followed Iran’s attack on three commercial tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
On Wednesday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had conducted a joint missile and drone operation targeting key U.S. military facilities in Bandar Salman, Bahrain’s Fifth Naval District, and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. Iran also claimed it had shot down a U.S. MQ-9 drone that attempted to interfere with the operation.
Later on Wednesday, U.S. Central Command announced that American forces had completed another round of strikes against Iran, targeting approximately 90 military sites. The operation included attacks on air defense systems, missile and drone storage facilities, naval capabilities, coastal surveillance assets, and military logistics infrastructure.
“The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway,” U.S. Central Command said.
