President Donald Trump told a reporter traveling with him on Air Force One Wednesday that she would be killed if Iran struck the presidential jet, a stark remark that underscores the escalating military confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
Speaking to the press pool after leaving the NATO summit in Turkey, Trump was asked about security risks to the aircraft following fresh U.S. strikes on Iranian targets. The president responded that he faces “a threat all the time” and is “number one on their list, before you.” He then added: “But if I go, you go. So, perhaps — perhaps some of you want to change professions.”
The comment came as Trump opted to fly on the older Air Force One model rather than the newer jet gifted by Qatar, a decision linked to heightened threat assessments. The shift in aircraft was first reported by The World Signal in a piece examining the security implications of the Iran escalation.
Ceasefire Collapses as Strikes Intensify
The U.S. and Iran traded heavy strikes overnight Thursday, each accusing the other of violating a 60-day ceasefire outlined in a 14-point memorandum signed last month. Trump declared the ceasefire “over” on Wednesday, a statement that sent oil prices surging.
Earlier that day, the president told reporters he would “probably” proceed with military action after three oil tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. “We’re going to hit them hard tonight,” he said at the time.
U.S. Central Command described the strikes as designed to “further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz” and to hold Tehran accountable for “recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway.”
Iran Warns Gulf States, Vows No Red Lines
In response, Iranian officials issued sharp warnings to Gulf states allied with Washington. Ebrahim Rezaei, a spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee, posted on X: “The Gulf states that have stood alongside Trump in the Iran-America regime conflict should watch over their oil and gas wells.” He added: “In defense of the security of the great Iranian nation, we have no red lines.”
The collapse of the ceasefire threatens to upend the Senate’s legislative agenda on defense bills, as lawmakers grapple with the implications of renewed hostilities in the region.
Trump’s blunt warning to the reporter also drew attention to the high-stakes environment aboard Air Force One, where the president’s offhand remarks often carry weight. The incident is the latest in a series of confrontational exchanges between Trump and the press, but it also serves as a reminder of the personal risks faced by those traveling with a commander in chief during active conflict.
