President Donald Trump has explained that he did not fly home to Washington from the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, aboard the new Air Force One, dismissing speculation that the decision was driven by security concerns amid Iranian threats. He said the new aircraft was instead being sent to a US air base in the United Kingdom so that American troops could tour it, while he returned on the former presidential plane. The episode is notable because it comes as Trump openly acknowledges being a prime target for assassination.

Trump said the new jet would fly to Mildenhall Air Force Base in the UK, stopping at "a couple of bases" so soldiers could see the aircraft, which he called "truly magnificent", while he travelled home "by normal methods". In a Truth Social post, he framed the move as an honour for military personnel, who he said would be "the first" to tour the plane. Although he denied security was the reason for the switch, Trump admitted he is "No. 1 on the kill list for Iran", noting he has been the target of at least three assassination attempts and citing a "5.2%" mortality rate for US presidents.