Air Force One – Trump Says UK Stop Was Planned for Service Members
Air Force One – US President Donald Trump said the newer Air Force One aircraft was sent ahead to Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the United Kingdom so American service members stationed there could see it during his return trip from Turkey.
Trump made the remarks on Wednesday, local time, after arriving in the UK from Turkey. He said the aircraft’s early arrival at the base had been arranged in response to a request from personnel at the installation and did not significantly alter the planned route back to the United States.
Trump cites base request for aircraft visit
In a message circulated by the Rapid Response account on X, Trump said he had met the new aircraft after landing at RAF Mildenhall. He described the visit as an opportunity for service members to view the plane and said personnel at the base were enthusiastic about the stop.
“We just landed and met up with our new Air Force One,” Trump said in the post, adding that the aircraft had been sent ahead so service members could see it. He said the detour involved “virtually no deviation of flightpath” while returning from Turkey.
Trump later made similar comments in a post on Truth Social, again stating that the visit was arranged at the request of the base.
President rejects security and technical concerns
The president also denied reports suggesting that security worries or technical issues influenced his decision to travel on an older Air Force One aircraft for part of the journey.
According to CNN, Trump was asked whether a security matter had led to the use of the older aircraft. He dismissed the suggestion, saying there was no reason for such concerns. He also rejected the possibility that the newer aircraft had experienced a mechanical problem.
“We sent it a little bit early, so that we could let them see it,” Trump told reporters aboard the new aircraft, according to CNN. He said the entire base had gathered to view the plane before he arrived.
Trump initially travelled from Turkey to the United Kingdom on the older aircraft before transferring to the newer plane for the final leg of the journey to the United States.
Questions raised over flight precautions
During the flight from Turkey to the UK, reporters travelling with Trump were reportedly instructed to close the window shades in the press cabin. The instruction prompted questions about whether additional safety measures had been put in place.
Trump said he had not personally been asked to close his own window shade. However, he said he would have followed the instruction if requested and suggested that precautions could be understandable given the risks faced by the president.
“You’re probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleazebags that we have to deal with,” Trump told reporters, according to CNN. He added that he was unaware at the time that members of the press had been asked to close their shades.
Trump refers to ongoing threats from Iran
Trump also said he faces credible threats from Iran on a continuing basis, though he did not confirm whether officials had identified a specific new threat on Wednesday.
His remarks came as tensions remain elevated following several retaliatory US strikes involving Iran. When asked about the security environment, Trump told reporters travelling with him that the risks associated with presidential travel were shared by those aboard the aircraft.
“If I go, you go,” he said.
The White House has not publicly provided further details about the flight arrangements, the reported window-shade instruction, or any specific threat assessment linked to the president’s return from Turkey.