U.S. President Donald Trump undertook a covert military transfer from Turkey last month due to an Iranian assassination threat, involving a switch between aircraft using a catering truck. Contrary to the initial announcement that he was traveling on Air Force One from Turkey to Britain after a NATO summit, Trump secretly left the plane through the catering truck and boarded a different aircraft for the onward journey, as per sources cited by the Washington Post.
Acknowledging the events, Trump disclosed that the Secret Service and military insisted on him taking a separate aircraft due to a security threat, which he claimed did not intimidate him. He minimized the perceived risk to those he left on the original plane, including White House officials, security personnel, support staff, and journalists.
In response to queries from reporters upon his return from Ohio, Trump stated that he was directed to board a different plane due to a threat, admitting he did not inquire much about it, given the numerous threats he receives. He emphasized that he had limited say in the decision, suggesting that the security situation necessitated the change.
Reports indicated that Trump opted for an older Air Force One jet when leaving Ankara for the NATO summit, despite using a newly renovated Qatari-donated plane for the inbound journey. This unexpected switch raised concerns about the security of the newer aircraft, especially amid escalating tensions with Iran, Turkey’s neighbor.
Before departing Ankara, Trump announced on his social media platform that he would fly on the older Air Force One to RAF Mildenhall in Britain, while the new plane made a stop at the same base for U.S. service members to tour it. Journalists traveling with Trump on the older aircraft, which served as a decoy, were instructed to keep their window shades closed during the flight.
There were instances where both reporters and some White House staff mistakenly believed the president was onboard the older Air Force One. Trump later explained to reporters that the instruction to keep the shades down was due to potential risks associated with the flight, emphasizing a shared sense of responsibility for safety.