Trump unexpectedly changes plane after NATO summit – fears over Iranian threats

US President Donald Trump unexpectedly changed his plane after the NATO summit in Istanbul, choosing to use the previous presidential aircraft for the leg to Mildenhall Air Base in England, instead of the new government plane he had arrived in Turkey with. This move sparked widespread speculation, especially given recent Israeli warnings that Iran may be planning an assassination attempt against the White House incumbent.

On his social media platform “Truth Social,” Trump explained the switch “for old times’ sake,” adding that the new plane would still go to Mildenhall so that US soldiers stationed there could see it. During a press conference, a journalist from the New York Post asked whether the decision was linked to potential security threats. Trump did not answer directly but stated: “I am number one on Iran’s hit list.”

Meanwhile, CNN, citing an informed source, reported that the plane change might be related to concerns about the new Air Force One’s defense systems. The source indicated that an assessment is underway to determine whether the aircraft can provide sufficient protection for the president on international flights in the event of an attack.