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Questions arise over Qatari-donated Air Force One after Secret Service advised Trump to take old plane
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- The Secret Service advised President Trump to depart Turkey on the older Air Force One plane instead of the new one donated by Qatar due to security concerns amid escalating tensions with Iran.
- The new Qatari-donated Boeing 747-8, valued at $400 million and retrofitted by the military, lacks some advanced defensive capabilities present in the older planes, such as laser systems to counter incoming missiles.
- The decision was precautionary and not based on a specific threat, aiming to ensure the president's ability to manage the war with Iran and maintain his security during the flight.
- The White House and Air Force maintain that the new plane is equipped with high-level security features and advanced technologies, though some less commonly used mission capabilities were traded off for other priorities.
- President Trump acknowledged being a target of Iran and accepted the gifted plane despite criticism over security risks and concerns about accepting a major gift from a foreign power.
