Donald Trump said Trump Air Force One is being sent to the United Kingdom so U.S. troops can tour it, while he returns by normal methods on the older presidential aircraft. He made the switch earlier Wednesday and said the new aircraft will stop at a couple of bases before the return trip ends.
Trump said, "It's flying to Europe, to one of the big bases" and added, "Two or three of the big bases where we can show it to the people. And we'll be going home by normal methods." He also said one stop would let soldiers see the aircraft "because it's truly magnificent."
Trump Air Force One and Mildenhall
On Truth Social, Trump wrote that the brand new Air Force One would be sent to Mildenhall Air Force Base in the United Kingdom, calling it a chance for military personnel to tour the aircraft. He said, "To honor our brave men and women of the Military, we are sending the brand new, and truly spectacular, Air Force One to Mildenhall Air Force Base, in the United Kingdom, to give them a chance to tour the Aircraft — Everybody is so excited, and we thought that they should be the first."
He also said, "For old time’s sake, we’ll be taking the former Air Force One, from Turkey to Mildenhall, a short trip that is totally worth doing in order to give our Great Military Heroes a chance to appreciate our beautiful new addition to the Air Force Fleet!" That means the newer aircraft is headed to Europe for a display stop, while Trump’s own trip home shifts to the older plane.
Iran and the flight switch
Trump was pressed during a news conference about speculation that security concerns and Iranian threats were behind the change. He said, "Well, I speak about it a lot because, you know, the life of a president is very dangerous" and added that he is "No. 1 on the kill list for Iran."
The added detail gives the return trip a second layer: Trump cast the aircraft swap as a military showcase, but he also tied the conversation to personal danger and at least three assassination attempts. The trip from Turkey to Mildenhall was described by Trump as a short one, and that leaves the immediate operational picture focused on the base stop and the older aircraft carrying him back.
June 19, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews
A photo caption said Trump stepped out of the new Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on June 19, 2026. With the new aircraft now routed to Mildenhall Air Force Base, the return leg is set to be handled separately on the older presidential aircraft, not on the plane Trump said was heading to the United Kingdom for troops to tour.
