DONALD Trump has mysteriously refused to leave the Nato summit aboard his new Air Force One after declaring he is “number one on Iran’s kill list” ahead of a fresh US blitz.
The US President stunned allies by ditching the Qatar-gifted $400million “flying palace” in a dramatic last-minute switch
Trump decided not to boar his brand new Air Force 1 jet due to fears he could be targeted Credit: Getty
The newly overhauled Air Force One, a Boeing 747 seen landing at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk Credit: AirForce Images
He instead boarded the older Air Force One in a shock last-minute switch after he threatened to unleash another crushing blitz on the rogue regime.
The decision immediately fuelled speculation the luxury jet may not have been considered safe enough.
And the move came just hours after Trump repeatedly spoke about Iranian threats to his life.
Trump insisted the aircraft was instead heading to Mildenhall in the UK so American troops could tour it.
Trump told a NYP reporter when asked about security concerns were behind the decision: “I’m number one on the kill list for . They’re lovely people.”
Earlier, he warned: “They want to take out the US leader, me … And so far, I guess I’ve been a little bit lucky. But that maybe doesn’t last very long.”
When pressed further by a New York Times reporter over why he had swapped planes, Trump replied: “It’s flying to Europe, to one of the big bases, two or three of the big bases, where we can show it to the people, and we’ll be going home by normal methods.”
The ageing Air Force One is widely believed to carry sophisticated anti-missile defences, with authorities famously banning close-up photographs of its rear because of its sensitive equipment.
President Trump was seen standing outside the new Air Force One plane on Wednesday
Trump fears he may be assassinated
It remains unclear whether the newly acquired 747 has the same level of protection despite undergoing extensive upgrades before entering presidential service.
Trump later insisted the switch was “to honor our brave men and women of the Military”.
He wrote: “We are sending the brand new, and truly spectacular, Air Force One to Mildenhall Air Force Base, in the , to give them a chance to tour the Aircraft – Everybody is so excited, and we thought that they should be the first.
“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!”
Retired Army Gen. Robert Abrams told ABC News security around Ankara airport “was probably a concern” and said it had to be serious enough for Trump to agree not to fly on the new aircraft.
Former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos also suggested the jet was “not equipped with appropriate comms/force pro[tection]/security package for duty” and that Secret Service concerns may have forced the dramatic change.
The plane switch came as and warned another devastating wave of US strikes could come within hours.
He insisted there was “not a thing” Iran could do to stop a fresh American assault.
US forces launched ‘powerful’ strikes on Iran after it attacked tankers in the Strait of Hormuz Credit: x
Trump fears he will face further assassination attempts
Asked whether the US would target more Iranian ships, Trump replied: “There’s not a thing they can do about it – so the answer is probably.”
He also hinted fresh strikes could begin before the night was over.
He said: “We’ll probably hit them hard again tonight. I’ll give them a little warning.
“We’re going to hit them hard tonight. But we’ll see how it all works out.”
Trump also threatened to “knock down every bridge in Iran in one day” and seize Kharg Island, the country’s crucial export hub.
“They really deserve it,” he warned, while also suggesting he could once again impose a naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced the President’s warning, saying: “Tonight, if we need to, we will hit even more and even deeper.”
The latest escalation follows US retaliatory strikes on more than 80 Iranian targets after Tehran allegedly attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump at a press conference at the Nato Summit Credit: Getty
Trump had only begun flying aboard the Qatar-gifted Boeing 747 last week Credit: Bav Media
US Central Command described the operation as a response to “a clear violation of the ceasefire”.
Iran then launched retaliatory strikes against 85 American military sites in Bahrain and , prompting Trump to accuse Tehran of “playing dirty”.
The President also revealed he believes Iran is actively plotting to assassinate him.
He said: “They want to take out the US leader, me. I’m on every list.
“I saw a thing this morning, I’m on every single one of their lists. And so far, I guess I’ve been a little bit lucky.
“But that maybe doesn’t last very long.”
Iran has now threatened to completely shut the Strait of Hormuz if America launches another attack.
Tehran warned: “Iran’s new strategy is: after any strike, it will be fully closed.”
The vital shipping lane remains one of the world’s most important oil routes, and fears of a prolonged conflict have already sent oil prices soaring by six per cent to $78.70 a barrel while global stock and bond markets tumbled.
The renewed violence has shattered hopes of peace just days after Trump declared a ceasefire with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Talks have since collapsed as hardliners in Tehran renewed calls for revenge.
Footage from Iran showed protesters hurling stones at a billboard depicting Trump with a bullet aimed at his head, while others marched beneath banners reading: “KILL TRUMP.”
Nato Secretary General also backed the US response.
He said: “It was a very strong response, and I’m with you on this.”
Rutte also defended European allies after Trump accused them of failing to support Washington’s military operation.
The President has repeatedly insisted negotiations with Tehran are now effectively over.
He said: “As far as I’m concerned, it’s over. I’ll speak to our negotiators, they want to negotiate.
“They’re sick people. They’re led by sick people and they’re vicious, violent people. And if they had a nuclear weapon, they’d use it.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s just a waste of time dealing with them.”
Trump had only begun flying aboard the Qatar-gifted Boeing 747 last week after proudly unveiling the upgraded aircraft, complete with conference rooms, televisions and a presidential office.
The aircraft, which Trump hailed as “maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built”, is expected to serve as a temporary Air Force One until Boeing delivers the long-delayed replacement fleet in 2028.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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