President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to put his new, Qatari-gifted Air Force One back into service for an upcoming trip to Ireland, despite unresolved security concerns that once forced him to be secretly whisked away in a catering truck.
According to a Washington Post report, Trump plans to board the $400 million retrofitted Boeing 747 for his next international trip, marking its return to active duty after being sidelined following the NATO Summit in July.
A senior administration official offered a carefully worded statement when asked about the aircraft’s status.
“We don’t comment on specific upgrades or modifications to Air Force One,” the official said. “We maintain a consistent posture that ensures a safe, secure, and reliable capability for the President of the United States and routinely evolve the capability as required to maintain that posture.”
The Washington Post reported that security upgrades on the plane have not yet even been scheduled.
The aircraft has been a source of controversy since Trump abruptly ditched it while leaving the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, opting instead for the older Air Force One. At the time, Trump told the New York Times the newer plane was being sent to military bases to be shown to soldiers, an explanation that was met with widespread skepticism.
It later emerged that the aircraft had security flaws making it unsafe for presidential use, reporting that reportedly angered Trump, who insisted the plane was simply being taken out of service to be “maxed out.”
The situation escalated further when the Trump administration subpoenaed New York Times reporters in an effort to uncover their sources on the story. Those subpoenas were later withdrawn following significant public backlash.
Perhaps most strikingly, it was revealed that Trump had been secretly escorted away by the Secret Service amid reported assassination threats from Iran, hidden in a catering truck at the summit before being taken to a separate plane with only a small group of trusted aides, including Natalie Harp.
Left behind on the reportedly compromised aircraft were members of the White House Press Corps, numerous staffers, and several Cabinet officials, a decision that drew sharp criticism from those who viewed them as having been left as, in the words of one critic, “sitting ducks.”
Now, as the president prepares to once again board the jet that sparked months of controversy and a bruising legal battle with the press, questions about the aircraft’s readiness and safety remain very much unresolved.
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