Donald Trump made a flying visit to Britain, but his choice of aircraft raised eyebrows. The US president landed at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk on an older, duck-egg blue Air Force One, having flown from the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey. He then switched to his new Qatari-donated jet, dubbed Qatar Force One, for the transatlantic journey back to Washington DC. Trump claimed on Truth Social that he wanted to give US troops at the base a tour of the new aircraft and that he flew the old plane "for old time's sake." However, the real reason appears to be security concerns.
Security Concerns Over Qatar-Gifted Jet
The new 747, gifted by Qatar, was fitted with luxury amenities like lie-flat seats and multiple TVs during eight months of upgrades. But it reportedly lacks the advanced security and weapons systems required for presidential travel on intercontinental flights, especially those departing from a country bordering Iran. The Secret Service advised Trump against using the jet for the first leg of his trip, according to the New York Times. This comes as the US resumed bombing Iran on Tuesday night, making the security of the presidential aircraft a top priority.
World Leaders Tiptoe Around Trump's Mood
Mirror Political Editor Lizzy Buchan reported from Ankara that world leaders were careful not to upset Trump. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever joked he would avoid mentioning Belgium's World Cup victory over Team USA, noting Trump "has the reputation of sometimes reacting a bit irritably to things that he doesn’t like, and I think this defeat will hit hard." Trump arrived jetlagged and irritable, and engaged in actions like pulling trade from Spain and discussing the annexation of Greenland, prompting leaders to steer clear of sensitive topics to avoid winding him up.
Trump's Visit to RAF Mildenhall
Trump sent the new jet ahead to RAF Mildenhall, one of 12 US Air Force-run bases in England, for refuelling and a tour for stationed troops. He then flew from Ankara to Suffolk on the older plane before transferring. The switch highlighted the limitations of the Qatari-donated aircraft, which is reserved for domestic travel due to its insufficient security specifications compared to the proper Air Force One fleet.
