Trump Secretly Switched Planes in Turkey Amid Iran Missile Threat

Shortly before Air Force One departed Turkey following last month’s NATO summit, President Trump secretly slipped away from the presidential jet and boarded a different plane with the help of an airport catering truck, according to a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the situation. The manoeuvre followed intelligence indicating a credible Iran missile threat targeting the aircraft as Trump left Ankara, according to an exclusive CBS News report.

Trump had previously acknowledged the risks tied to the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, describing himself as Iran’s “number one target” during the NATO summit. The Washington Post first broke news of the secret plane switch, prompting frustration among several Trump administration officials on Monday night over the leak of highly classified security procedures that could compromise future presidential protection efforts.

Hours before the switch, Trump announced on 8 July that he would leave Ankara aboard the older Air Force One rather than the newer Qatari-donated jet used to arrive at the summit. He explained the decision as being “for old time’s sake” and said U.S. forces at a U.K. refuelling stop would inspect the newer plane. However, CBS News reported that the Secret Service had actually advised the switch for security reasons.

Press footage showed Trump boarding the older Air Force One while a catering truck sat parked on the opposite side of the aircraft. Minutes later, the truck departed and drove towards a separate U.S. government plane, reportedly an Air Force C-32A. Trump then flew from Ankara to the U.K. refuelling stop aboard this separate aircraft, while members of the press and his own staff travelled the same route on the original Air Force One, unaware they weren’t actually flying with the president.

While in Ankara, journalists were instructed to keep window shades closed in the press cabin. When asked why, Trump later told reporters they were “probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleazebags that we have to deal with.”

Once in the United Kingdom, Trump switched to the newer Air Force One, donated by Qatar and retrofitted by the U.S. Air Force, and spoke with reporters during the transatlantic flight to Washington, D.C. The administration has never publicly confirmed that press and staff were flying aboard a decoy aircraft during the Ankara-to-U.K. leg.

Last month, the newer Air Force One, which debuted in June, was sent for additional security upgrades after questions emerged about its protective capabilities, Trump confirmed to reporters.

Asked about the secret plane switch on Monday, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung avoided directly addressing the question, stating: “The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff. As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats.” The Air Force separately described the new presidential aircraft as “safe, secure and equipped with the most advanced technologies necessary to meet the requirements of the presidential mission.”

Do you think secrecy around presidential security measures like this is necessary, even when it means misleading the press?