Trump Secretly Swapped Planes in Ankara During NATO Summit Amid Iranian Assassination Threat

President Donald Trump secretly left Turkey last month during a NATO summit in Ankara, transferring from the older Air Force One to a smaller military aircraft via a catering truck as part of an operation tied to an Iranian assassination threat, according to a U.S. official cited by NBC News.

“"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."”

NBC News

NBC News reported that White House communications director Steven Cheung did not dispute The Washington Post’s account and said, "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."

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Reuters reported that the White House had said Trump was flying aboard Air Force One from Turkey to Britain, but that moments after he boarded, he left it in secret via the catering truck and boarded another aircraft for the flight to Britain.

Reuters said Trump had taken a newly renovated Qatari-donated jet to Ankara for the NATO summit, then unexpectedly announced he would use an older Air Force One when departing for RAF Mildenhall in Britain.

Reuters added that journalists on the older Air Force One were advised to keep their window shades in the press cabin closed during the deception operation.

CBS News said the ruse was employed because the U.S. had learned of a threat from Iran and its allied proxies, and it reported that U.S. intelligence detected a credible plot to fire a missile at the plane Mr. Trump was on as he left Ankara.

CBS News reported that when Trump was asked why the shades needed to be closed, he later told reporters they were "probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleazebags that we have to deal with."

BBC

The BBC said reporters and some White House staff traveling aboard the old Air Force One did not know Trump had been taken to the other aircraft secretly, and it described the transfer as being carried out with the help of a catering container.

The BBC also reported that the White House communications director Steven Cheung did not confirm or deny the reports directly, but said the new Air Force One was a "top-of-the-line aircraft" equipped with security measures to protect the president and his team.

In a separate account, The Hill said the incident took place July 8, when Trump was in Turkey for a NATO summit meeting with world leaders, and it reported that The New York Times confirmed The Washington Post’s reporting.

The Reuters account said the C-32A carrying Trump flew to Britain and arrived at around 10:20 p.m., while the older Air Force One and media arrived minutes later, and it reported that it was not clear how Trump was moved from the C-32A back to the older Air Force One.

“arrived at around 10:20 p.m. with the older Air Force One and media arriving minutes later”

Reuters

The BBC reported that after Trump flew from Turkey to the United Kingdom, he boarded the old Air Force One again and was seen getting off the plane after it landed at the British Royal Air Force base in Mildenhall, before continuing the journey to Washington on the new Air Force One that Qatar had given him.

The Hill reported that Trump started to use the new Air Force One days before any threats came from Iran, and it said the White House previously said the president left the summit aboard the older Air Force One.

The Hill also reported that Trump told reporters last month that the new Qatari-gifted plane would be "maxed out," and it said the U.S. Air Force statement described trades that left much of the previous head of state interior layout minimally changed.

NBC News said Cheung pointed to "many enemies of America who have their sights on him" and said the administration uses "every tool at our disposal" to address those threats, while the Secret Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment.