The White House said President Donald Trump’s upgraded presidential aircraft has advanced security protections after questions emerged over his decision to leave Turkey aboard an older Air Force One before switching planes in the United Kingdom.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The White House defended the security of President Donald Trump’s retrofitted Air Force One on Thursday after questions surfaced about why he departed Turkey aboard an older presidential aircraft before transferring to a newer plane in the United Kingdom.
White House communications director Steven Cheung said the upgraded aircraft is protected by advanced security measures intended to safeguard the president and his staff. He also said the administration uses multiple tactics to respond to threats against Trump.
Cheung said the White House uses “every tool at our disposal — including distraction and misdirection” when dealing with potential threats to the president. He noted that Trump has said foreign adversaries continue to target him.
The questions followed Trump’s departure from the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday. Trump initially boarded the older, light blue Air Force One for a flight to Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the United Kingdom.
After arriving at Mildenhall, he later switched to a newer Boeing aircraft that had been donated by Qatar and retrofitted for presidential use before returning to the United States.
Trump told reporters earlier Wednesday that he chose the older plane “for old times’ sake.” He said the newer aircraft was flown separately so U.S. military personnel at Mildenhall could see it.
The president was later asked whether he had avoided flying on the newer aircraft because of possible threats from Iran. Trump did not answer directly, but said he remains a major target of the Iranian regime.
“I’m No. 1 on the kill list for Iran,” Trump told reporters.
When pressed again about why he was not using the newer aircraft during the first leg of the trip, Trump again said it was being displayed at military bases because “it’s truly magnificent.”
According to reports from The Hill, reporters traveling aboard the older Air Force One were told to keep their window shades closed during the flight from Turkey to the United Kingdom. No official explanation was given for the instruction.
Asked about the precaution, Trump joked that it was probably because of the “sleazebags over here.”
The aircraft switch and added precautions came as tensions with Iran remained high. At the NATO summit, Trump declared that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran had ended.
U.S. forces later resumed strikes against Iranian targets after Tehran was accused of attacking commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has repeatedly said Iranian leaders may try to assassinate him.
“I’m number one on the list for killing,” he said.
Original article
Comments