Air Force One was forced to turn around Tuesday night after experiencing what the White House described as a “minor electrical issue” shortly after President Donald Trump departed for Switzerland.
The aircraft was en route to Davos, where Trump is scheduled to deliver a keynote address to European leaders at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday. According to the White House, the issue was identified by the flight crew after takeoff, prompting a precautionary return.
Air Force One landed safely at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where Trump was set to transfer to a different aircraft to continue his trip, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
Leavitt injected a bit of humor into the situation, joking that flying on a Qatari jet sounded “much better” at the moment.
Her comment referenced the $400 million Boeing 747-8 luxury jet gifted to President Trump by Qatar’s royal family back in May. The aircraft is intended to replace the aging Air Force One fleet but is still undergoing extensive retrofitting to meet U.S. security and defense requirements.
Meanwhile, Trump’s upcoming appearance in Davos has already stirred controversy abroad. Ahead of his arrival, demonstrators in Zurich reportedly burned U.S. flags and vandalized American-owned businesses on Monday night in protest of Trump’s push to acquire Greenland.
Trump has repeatedly stated that bringing Greenland under U.S. control is a strategic priority, a position that has rattled European leaders and strained relations with traditional allies. The president has not ruled out military options and has even warned that the United States could reconsider its role in NATO if blocked from taking over the autonomous Danish territory.
Despite the theatrics overseas and the brief travel hiccup, the White House says Trump’s message in Davos remains unchanged. His speech will focus on urging Europe to abandon economic stagnation and the failed policies that, in Trump’s view, caused it—an argument he’s unlikely to soften, electrical issues or not.
