Overview
- President Trump arrived in Ankara on the Qatar-donated Boeing 747 but left Turkey Wednesday on the older VC-25A after the Secret Service reportedly asked that he not use the donated jet for security reasons.
- The U.S. Air Force has acknowledged that the donated 747 entered service without the full suite of systems normally installed on Air Force One, and reporting says some anti-missile countermeasures and presidential communications fittings were not yet in place.
- The White House has defended the aircraft as ultramodern while former Air Force officials and aviation experts say the accelerated refit left key defensive and communications capabilities incomplete.
- Operational decisions drew attention during the trip when pool reporters were ordered to close window shades on the older plane and later reports say the donated jet’s transponder was switched off shortly after takeoff from the U.K.
- The episode has prompted congressional inquiries and renewed ethics scrutiny over high-value gifts from foreign states and could prompt tighter oversight of presidential travel and aircraft certification.