United States President, Donald Trump, has confirmed that he was secretly moved to a different aircraft after leaving a NATO summit in Turkey last month following a possible
security threat.
Trump said on Tuesday that the decision to change planes was made by the US Secret Service and military officials, adding that he followed their instructions.
“I go by Secret Service and the military. They wanted me to go in a different flight, different plane,” Trump told reporters. “I just have to do what they say.”
The revelation followed reports that Trump initially boarded the old Air Force One at Ankara airport on July 8 in front of television cameras before secretly leaving the aircraft through a catering truck and transferring to a smaller military plane.
US officials told CBS News that American authorities had detected what they considered a credible Iranian threat to launch a missile at the presidential aircraft.
The New York Times also reported that US intelligence had information about a person near the NATO summit who had allegedly been seen carrying a shoulder-fired missile.
Trump said the aircraft he eventually boarded could have faced an even greater danger because it was the plane an attacker would have been more likely to target.
“I guess there was a threat out there,” the president said during a visit aboard Air Force One to an event in Ohio on Tuesday. “I didn’t really ask too much about it. I get a lot of threats.”
He added, “I have a lot of threats that you don’t know about.”
Trump had arrived in Turkey aboard a newer Boeing 747-8 aircraft donated by Qatar.
However, he had announced that he would return on the older Air Force One “for old time’s sake”.
Footage showed Trump boarding the presidential aircraft at Ankara airport before reports emerged that he was secretly transferred to a C-32A military aircraft, a modified Boeing 757 commonly used by the vice-president.
According to the Washington Post, a catering truck was raised to the aircraft door on the opposite side of the plane from where Trump had boarded.
The president reportedly used the vehicle to leave the aircraft unnoticed before being taken to the C-32A.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth separately boarded the C-32A using external stairs, reportedly helping officials maintain the appearance that the flight was proceeding normally.
Meanwhile, journalists and some White House staff remained aboard the original Air Force One and were reportedly instructed to keep the aircraft’s window shades closed without being told that Trump was no longer on board.
A media pool producer later said the instruction appeared unusual.
A photographer who briefly opened a window shade was reportedly told to close it.
The White House Correspondents’ Association detailed the incident in a report on Tuesday, noting that there appeared to be catering trucks positioned at both the front and rear of the presidential aircraft.
Technically, “Air Force One” refers to the call sign used by any aircraft carrying the US president.
However, during the operation, the C-32A reportedly used the call sign “Reach 18”, while the aircraft carrying journalists continued using “AF1” to preserve the deception.
Members of Trump’s Cabinet were reportedly among those who remained on the original aircraft, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, according to the New York Times.
Trump later travelled to the United Kingdom aboard the C-32A before rejoining the old Air Force One after it landed at RAF Mildenhall.
The circumstances surrounding how he transferred back to the presidential aircraft remain unclear.
During the subsequent flight aboard the newer Air Force One, Trump acknowledged the threats posed by Iran but did not disclose the earlier plane switch.
When asked why journalists had been instructed to keep their window shades closed during the flight from Turkey, Trump said, “Because you’re probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleazebags we have to deal with.”
He also said he faced threats against his life “all the time” and claimed he was “number one” on Iran’s list.
Jose Zamora, regional director for the Americas at the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the administration had a responsibility to protect journalists travelling with the president.
“Reporters should be informed of credible security threats so they can make informed decisions about their safety,” he added.
The secret operation took place a day after the US resumed military strikes against Iran following the collapse of negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the conflict.
