Trump sends new Air Force One to Mildenhall base for military tour

Trump announces the brand-new Air Force One will fly to a United Kingdom air base so service members can be the first to tour the aircraft.

First Published: July 8, 2026, 8:51 AM ET

WHITE HOUSE — Donald Trump announced he is sending the new Air Force One to RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom so military personnel can tour the aircraft, on a Truth Social post on July 8, 2026 at 7:42 AM EST (see truthsocial).

Here is the full post on [truthsocial]: “To honor our brave men and women of the Military, we are sending the brand new, and truly spectacular, Air Force One to Mildenhall Air Force Base, in the United Kingdom, 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! Trump”

Trump said service members at Mildenhall would be “the first” to see the new presidential aircraft, framing the visit as a tribute to the military. He also disclosed that the outgoing Air Force One would make the short flight from Turkey to the United Kingdom for the occasion, calling the detour “totally worth doing.”

RAF Mildenhall, located in Suffolk, England, is a major U.S. Air Force installation that hosts the 100th Air Refueling Wing and serves as a hub for American military operations across Europe and Africa. The base has long been a staging point for presidential aircraft during overseas trips.

The new Air Force One program has been a signature priority for Trump across two administrations. The replacement aircraft, a pair of modified Boeing 747-8 jets, were commissioned to succeed the aging VC-25A fleet that has served presidents since the early 1990s. Trump has repeatedly highlighted the planes as symbols of American engineering and national prestige.

Trump’s reference to flying the former Air Force One “from Turkey” suggests the presidential delegation was in the region before the planned stop at Mildenhall. The decision to route the older aircraft to the base alongside the new one gives personnel a chance to see both generations of presidential planes side by side.

In the last 30 days, 55 of 555 Trump posts were on the topic of domestic policy, reflecting a sustained focus on government operations and military affairs during this period.

The announcement underscores Trump’s continued emphasis on public displays of military appreciation, blending logistics with ceremony by turning an aircraft delivery into a morale event for stationed troops.