President Donald Trump is flying back to the United States on the older Air Force One after a visit to Turkey, while a new Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar and converted for presidential use at an estimated $1 billion cost heads to European military bases, including Mildenhall in the UK, so service members can view it. Trump wrote on Truth Social that he is taking the older aircraft for that leg so troops can see the new jet. He dismissed suggestions that security concerns—such as Iranian assassination threats he acknowledged—prompted the switch. The Qatari gift is intended as a stopgap until purpose-built planes arrive around 2027–2028. Critics from both parties have questioned the ethics and expense of accepting the donation, though the White House says procedures were lawful. According to reports, ownership of the new aircraft will later transfer to Trump’s presidential library foundation.