Frank Kendall, who served as the Air Force secretary during the Biden administration, expressed concerns regarding the security of a new aircraft gifted to President Donald Trump by Qatar. Kendall noted that modifications necessary for security and communications were not completed in time for Trump's use of the jet during a trip to Turkey for a NATO summit. He stated, "Time didn’t permit all the normal Air Force One modifications, so some mix of security, communications, and support is missing." Kendall was surprised to see the aircraft used outside the U.S., especially given the current tensions with Iran.
Andrew Hunter, another former Air Force official, indicated that retrofitting a Boeing 747 to serve as a presidential aircraft could take over a year. In response to these concerns, White House communications director Steven Cheung asserted that the new Air Force One is equipped with advanced security protocols to ensure the safety of the President and his staff. Reports suggest that Trump opted to return to the older Air Force One due to worries about the Qatari jet's communication systems and military defenses amid rising tensions with Iran. Trump himself mentioned concerns for his safety, stating he is a target for Iran, although he did not provide specific details.