White House communications director Steven Cheung did not directly confirm or deny the reports, but said the new Air Force One was a "state-of-the-art aircraft" fitted with security measures to protect the president and his staff.

US intelligence had previously warned of a specific threat of an attack on Trump or his aircraft, according to earlier reporting by CBS News.

The New York Times previously reported on security concerns regarding the Qatari-gifted jet , including that the Secret Service had urged Trump to switch planes on his return from the Nato summit.

Several of the publication's journalists were summoned to testify under oath in response. The Justice Department subsequently told the BBC that it was investigating illegal leaks.

The US has spent months retrofitting the $400m Boeing 747-8 to prepare it for the president. Older Air Force One planes have laser technology to blind incoming missiles, sources have told CBS News. It is unclear what systems the Qatari jet has.

"The new Air Force One is perfectly safe for the President's travels, but will receive additional upgrades and enhancements in the fall which will take approximately one month to complete," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to CBS News.