US President Trump Switches Air Force One Mid-Flight Amid Iran Assassination Threat Intelligence from Israel

President Donald Trump switched from the new Air Force One plane to the older one during his return flight from Turkey after receiving intelligence from Israel about a possible assassination plot against him. The new plane, gifted by Qatar and upgraded by the US Air Force, was deemed insufficiently secure by US intelligence and security officials due to the threat, which coincided with renewed hostilities involving Iran. Trump had flown the upgraded plane to the NATO summit in Ankara but switched to the older Air Force One for part of the return journey to Washington, then resumed the flight on the new plane.

Although Trump denied that security concerns prompted the aircraft change, stating the new plane was shown to US troops in Britain, US officials told the Wall Street Journal that the intelligence from Israel indicated Iran had developed a new assassination plan. Some US sources expressed concern that Israel shared this intelligence to influence US policy towards a broader conflict with Iran. They noted that a single intelligence piece might not fully represent the threat and that Iran understands an attack on Trump could provoke a severe US military response.

The Israeli embassy emphasized that intelligence sharing with the US is based on close partnership, not to push any hidden agenda such as promoting war. The Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to requests for comment. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the US, Iran, and Israel, and the complex intelligence dynamics influencing presidential security and foreign policy decisions.