Trump ultimately chooses his old Air Force One and reignites the controversy surrounding the Boeing gifted by Qatar

Le président américain Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that it would leave Turkey aboard a former Air Force One aircraft rather than use the recently refurbished Boeing 747 offered by Qatar, an unexpected reversal that revives questions about the costly modernization of this aircraft intended to serve as a temporary solution.

This trip to Turkey marked the first international flight for the new aircraft, amid rising tensions with Iran, Turkey's neighbor. The aircraft change comes after several months of debate surrounding this gift from the Qatari government, while Boeing is experiencing delays in the delivery of its next-generation Air Force One aircraft.

On his social media account, Truth Social, Donald Trump explained that he would use a former Air Force One "out of nostalgia" to travel to RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom. The Boeing 777 gifted by Qatar will nevertheless make a stopover at the same base so that the American military personnel stationed there can tour the aircraft.

The new aircraft is a Boeing 747 gifted to the United States by Qatar last year and subsequently refurbished by the defense group L3Harris Technologies. It sports a new red, white, dark blue, and gold livery, chosen by Donald Trump, breaking with the traditional Air Force One colors used for several decades.

When asked about a possible assassination threat that might have motivated his decision to change planes before departing from Turkey, the American president did not answer directly. He did, however, tell the press that he was "Iran's number one target," while adding that this did not change his stance toward the threat.

The acceptance of the Qatari Boeing had already sparked considerable criticism in the United States. Several experts had pointed out that this luxury aircraft required significant modifications to meet presidential security requirements, particularly regarding secure communications, protection against eavesdropping, and missile defense capabilities. This latest change of plans once again highlights the controversies surrounding its use.