By The Nusantara Times
July 25, 2026 | 9: 15 PM EST

TORONTO — President Donald Trump switched from the Qatari-donated Air Force One to the older presidential aircraft while departing Turkey earlier this month after U.S. authorities identified what they considered a credible threat from Iranian-backed forces, according to a report by The New York Times.

The aircraft change took place during Trump's visit to Ankara for the NATO summit. Trump had arrived aboard the Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar, but later departed on the older Air Force One after the U.S. Secret Service recommended the switch for security reasons.

According to The New York Times, intelligence obtained by U.S. officials suggested Iranian proxy groups were seeking to target Trump and the aircraft carrying him. The information reportedly did not indicate that the newer jet itself had been singled out, but rather that the president was the intended target regardless of which aircraft he used.

The previously undisclosed threat offers new insight into the White House's decision to replace the aircraft during the trip and has renewed scrutiny over the defensive capabilities of the Qatari-donated jet, which entered presidential service only recently.

The White House declined to comment directly on the reported intelligence. However, a senior administration official cited Trump's previous public statements about Iranian assassination threats and said officials remained confident in the security measures taken to protect the president and his delegation.

At the time, Trump publicly dismissed suggestions that the aircraft swap was security-related, saying the newer jet had been left behind so U.S. service members stationed in Britain could tour it. He later acknowledged that the aircraft still lacked some defensive systems installed on the older Air Force One fleet and said further upgrades were planned.

The donated Boeing 747-8 underwent an accelerated retrofit before entering service but reportedly does not yet possess the full range of defensive technologies carried by the aircraft it is replacing.

The New York Times previously reported concerns among U.S. officials regarding the aircraft's security features. Following that report, the Justice Department opened a leak investigation that included subpoenas seeking testimony and phone records from several Times journalists. Those subpoenas were withdrawn on Thursday.

The reported threat during Trump's stay in Turkey was separate from intelligence allegedly provided by Israel concerning Iranian plots against the U.S. president. According to the newspaper, some American officials questioned the reliability of the Israeli assessment, believing it may have been intended to encourage a stronger U.S. military response against Iran.

While attending the NATO summit, Trump said he remained a target of Iranian retaliation.

"They want to take out the U.S. leader — me," Trump told reporters in Ankara, adding that he believed his name appeared on Iranian target lists.

Iran-linked groups have repeatedly threatened Trump since the 2020 U.S. strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, a senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force.

The White House has described the Qatari aircraft as an interim solution until two long-delayed replacement Air Force One jets ordered from Boeing become operational. Officials have said the aircraft will be temporarily removed from service later this year for additional upgrades, while Trump resumes using the older Air Force One during that period.

Separately, Secret Service Director Sean Curran said this week that the agency is confronting the most severe threat environment he has witnessed during his 24-year career, describing the risks facing protected officials as "off the charts."

Source: The New York Times