Report: Trump's Rush for New Air Force One Drove Up Risks

Key Points:

• President Trump expedited the retrofitting of a luxury 747-8 jet donated by Qatar for use in the Air Force One rotation, compressing a multi-year upgrade into about eight months ahead of the nation's 250th birthday celebration.
• The accelerated process resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in additional costs, including pilot training and extra 747-8 purchases, with some expenses obscured from Congress by being charged to a classified nuclear modernization budget.
• The 747-8 "bridge" aircraft lacks several standard Air Force One security features, such as a lower-level exit with stairs, a second auxiliary power unit, and visible advanced antimissile defenses.
• Despite White House assurances of the jet's safety, concerns grew after the Secret Service advised Trump to leave Turkey on the older Air Force One due to credible threats from Iranian proxy forces; reporters covering this were subpoenaed, though the Justice Department later withdrew the subpoenas.
• The donated 747-8, intended for Trump's presidential library, is scheduled for further upgrades this fall to address security and operational shortcomings.