Security fears behind quick UK stopover? Trump says 'I'm number one of their list'
US President Donald Trump made a very brief stopover at a British Royal Air Force (RAF) base where he changed planes en route to the United States from the NATO summit in Turkey.
But he denied that the move had anything to do with security fears or threats to the aircraft, telling reporters: "I have a threat all the time. I'm number one of their list."
Trump and his entourage flew from Ankara to RAF Mildenhall in the eastern English county of Suffolk on the old Air Force One plane before switching to the new model donated to him by the state of Qatar last year.
He had earlier said on social media that the "brand new, and truly spectacular, Air Force One" was being sent to the UK air base to give US military personnel stationed there "a chance to tour the Aircraft."
He said he flew from Turkey to the United Kingdom on board the previous Air Force One "for old time's sake."
The New York Times reported late Wednesday that the switch was made at the request of the US Secret Service "as a security precaution."
The US newspaper, citing unnamed sources, said the new plane lacks some capabilities of the old plane, but that the switch was not made because of a specific threat. ALSO READ: Iran war: Trump calls second set of US strikes 'retribution'
Trump: Iranians 'want to make a deal so badly'
US President Donald Trump claimed during his flight back to Washington from the NATO summit in Turkey on Thursday morning that Iran had "called a little while ago" and "want[ed] to make a deal so badly."
"I just don't know if they're worthy of making a deal," he told reporters on board Air Force One. "I don't know that they're going to honor the deal, that's the problem."
Asked why Iranian forces were continuing to attack commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz if they were interested in a deal, Trump responded that they were "sort of crazy."
The exchange reportedly took place after the United States had launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran on Wednesday night and into Thursday morning.
In the past, Trump has frequently reported phone calls or conversations that were later disputed either in whole or in part by the other side.
