Trump brushes aside Air Force One switch scrutiny: 'You're probably on a dangerous flight'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump brushed aside questions over his decision to switch back to the older Air Force One after the NATO summit, insisting the move had nothing to do with security despite renewed speculation.

The president also joked that passengers aboard the presidential aircraft were "probably on a dangerous flight" as reporters pressed him about potential threats from Iran and whether security concerns influenced the last-minute aircraft change.

Why did Trump switch Air Force One after the NATO summit?

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, July 8, aboard Air Force One, Trump insisted there was no security reason behind his decision to leave the NATO summit on the older Air Force One instead of the retrofitted $400 million jet that Qatar gifted to the United States.

Earlier in the day, Trump said he was taking the older aircraft home "for old time's sake" while the newer plane headed to an air base so US service members could tour it.

When reporters later asked whether security concerns had forced the change in plans, Trump rejected the suggestion.

A reporter then noted that passengers had been instructed to close their window blinds during the flight and asked why.

"Because you're probably on a dangerous flight," Trump replied, appearing to reference perceived threats from Iran.

Asked whether he knew of any credible Iranian threat against Air Force One, Trump responded, "Well, I have a threat all the time. I'm No. 1 on their list, before you. But if I go, you go. Perhaps someday you want to change professions."

Trump addresses Iran threats during Air Force One exchange

The questions followed Trump's earlier remarks during the NATO summit, where reporters asked whether speculation about Iranian security threats explained why he was not returning aboard the newer aircraft.

One reporter pointed out that Trump had twice discussed possible Iranian assassination attempts before asking him to address the aircraft change.

Trump did not directly answer the question about the plane during that exchange. Instead, he said, "I speak about it a lot because the life of a president is very dangerous."

He added, "I'm No. 1 on the kill list for Iran."

When another reporter asked why he was not flying the newer plane, Trump said it was being sent to Europe so military personnel could see it.

"It's flying to Europe to one of the big bases, two or three of the big bases, where we can show it to the people," he said. "We'll be going home by normal methods... so the soldiers can see it because it's truly magnificent."

Trump says new Air Force One was sent for troops to tour

Trump later expanded on that explanation in Truth Social posts, saying the aircraft had been sent to RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom so service members could tour it.

"We just landed and met up with our new Air Force One," Trump wrote, adding that it had been sent ahead "so we could show the wonderful Servicemembers" and that the detour involved "virtually no deviation of flightpath."

Earlier, he wrote that "for old time's sake, we'll be taking the former Air Force One" from Turkey to Mildenhall so "our Great Military Heroes" could "appreciate our beautiful new addition to the Air Force Fleet."

The administration has previously faced criticism over accepting the Boeing 747 from Qatar, with lawmakers raising concerns about security and potential conflicts of interest.