Why Trump’s so sensitive about Air Force One

2026-07-16

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When Donald Trump went to the NATO summit in Ankara, he took one plane in and a different one out. They were both called Air Force One, but one is 35 years old and is believed to have advanced safety features and the other was a retrofitted luxury 747 given to the US by Qatar. Why did the US president not fly out on the newer plane that he loves so much? New York Times journalists have received subpoenas after sources told them it was due to safety precautions related to the war with Iran.

When Donald Trump went to the NATO summit in Ankara, he took one plane in and a different one out.

They were both called Air Force One, but one is 35 years old and is believed to have advanced safety features and the other was a retrofitted luxury 747 given to the US by Qatar.

Why did the US president not fly out on the newer plane that he loves so much?

New York Times journalists have received subpoenas after sources told them it was due to safety precautions related to the war with Iran.

Today, staff writer at The Atlantic, David A. Graham, on the president's planes and the latest attack on the press.

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David A. Graham, staff writer at The Atlantic

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