President Trump flew out of Ankara on the older Air Force One model after the Secret Service advised against using a newer aircraft gifted by Qatar, according to reporting from The Hill.
The security recommendation came during the NATO Summit in Turkey. Sources familiar with the decision said the Secret Service exercised caution over potential threats connected to the Qatari-gifted plane. The report does not specify the nature of the threat assessment or how the aircraft came to be a presidential gift.
The incident underscores the intersection of diplomatic protocol and presidential security. Gifts from foreign governments to sitting presidents raise logistical and security considerations that extend beyond standard protocol. Qatar, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, had provided the aircraft as a gesture of goodwill, yet American security officials determined the potential risks warranted using the established, thoroughly-vetted older model instead.
Trump's departure from Turkey on the traditional Air Force One reflects standard Secret Service procedure when security concerns arise about any presidential conveyance. The agency prioritizes threat assessment over diplomatic considerations, though the decision likely required White House coordination to avoid offending the Qatari government.
The episode raises questions about how the White House manages gifts from foreign leaders and the vetting processes for aircraft that might serve presidential transport. Air Force One carries sensitive security architecture and communications equipment, making any new addition to the fleet subject to extensive inspection and clearance protocols.
No details emerged about whether the gifted aircraft underwent security review or whether diplomatic conversations followed the decision to use the older plane instead.