WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� The White House says will be returning to an for about a month as the new, Qatari-gifted jet undergoes 鈥渁dditional upgrades and enhancements.鈥�
Trump鈥檚 use of the new red, white and navy blue aircraft has faced much scrutiny not only because it was gifted by a foreign government, but also because it with some of the same missile detection and countermeasure systems as the older jets.
But it came under deeper scrutiny this month when on the older, baby blue Air Force One and made a previously unscheduled stop at a base in the United Kingdom. Trump then swapped back onto the new Qatari-gifted plane at Royal Air Force Mildenhall.
鈥淭he new Air Force One is perfectly safe for the President鈥檚 travels, but will receive additional upgrades and enhancements in the fall which will take approximately one month to complete,鈥� White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday. 鈥淒uring that time, the President will fly on the old Air Force One.鈥�
The statement from Leavitt elaborated on a comment from the president as he returned to Washington on Sunday night, when he told reporters that the new plane will be sent to be 鈥渕axed out.鈥�
Trump claimed earlier this month that the stop in the United Kingdom was so U.S. troops at Mildenhall could look at the new plane. He denied to reporters that the jet switch was due to security concerns, although he also said that he has a threat against him 鈥渁ll the time鈥� and is Iran鈥檚 鈥淣o. 1鈥� target.
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