U.S. President Donald Trump undertook a covert military flight from Turkey recently due to an Iranian threat. The operation involved a transfer between aircraft using a catering truck. Initially, the White House stated that Trump was flying on Air Force One from Turkey to Britain after attending a NATO summit. However, right after boarding Air Force One, Trump secretly exited via the catering truck and got on a different aircraft bound for Britain, as reported by the Washington Post citing undisclosed sources.
Trump later acknowledged the events, revealing that the Secret Service and military recommended he switch planes due to a security threat which he claimed did not intimidate him. He minimized the perceived risk to those remaining on the original plane, including White House officials, security personnel, and journalists.
Speaking to reporters upon his return from an event in Ohio, Trump explained that authorities insisted on him taking a different flight due to a potential threat. He mentioned being accustomed to receiving numerous threats and not delving too deeply into the specifics of this particular one.
The decision to change planes raised concerns about security. Trump had initially used a newly refurbished jet donated by Qatar for the NATO summit in Turkey but opted for an older Air Force One when leaving, sparking inquiries regarding the security of the newer aircraft. The switch to the older plane occurred amid escalating tensions with Iran, Turkey’s neighboring country.
Before departing Ankara, Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social that he would use the older Air Force One for the journey 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 Air Force One, which acted as a decoy, were instructed to keep their window shades closed in the press cabin.
Reportedly, some White House staff and journalists believed Trump was aboard the older plane. When asked about the closed window shades during the flight, Trump suggested it was a precaution due to the perceived risk, emphasizing solidarity by stating, “But if I go, you go. Right?”