Trump Touted Qatar’s Luxury Jet. Then He Had To Be Smuggled In A Catering Truck Off It

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – President Donald Trump had touted the luxurious Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar as a future Air Force One. But during his return from Turkey last month, the aircraft fell short of the security requirements for the president, forcing a covert operation to move him to a smaller military jet amid a credible Iranian threat.

Trump had traveled to Ankara aboard the Qatar-donated aircraft and later publicly boarded the older Air Force One in full view of reporters. But he was not actually going to remain on that plane.

Instead, Trump who is always conscious of luxury and his image along with a  small group of aides were secretly moved through a catering truck that had been raised to the aircraft. The truck was then driven to a nearby C-32A military jet, a modified Boeing 757, which carried Trump to Britain’s Mildenhall air base.

The operation took place July 8 as Trump returned from a NATO summit in Ankara.

The Qatar aircraft had been promoted by Trump for its luxurious features and was expected to eventually serve as another Air Force One. But security officials reportedly determined that its rushed modifications did not provide the same level of protection as the older presidential aircraft.

Among the concerns were the absence of some defensive systems, including anti-missile capabilities and protections against electromagnetic surges. With officials also facing what were described as credible threats from Iran, the Qatar aircraft was sent ahead to Britain while Trump was moved to the older Air Force One.

Trump and his aides arrived at Mildenhall aboard the military jet, where he later switched to the Qatar-donated aircraft for the next leg of his journey to the United States.