U.S. President Donald Trump undertook a covert military journey from Turkey last month due to an Iranian threat of assassination. The operation involved transferring him between aircraft using a catering truck. Initially, the White House stated that President Trump was traveling on Air Force One from Turkey to Britain after attending a NATO summit. However, moments after boarding Air Force One, Trump discreetly exited via the catering truck and boarded another plane bound for Britain, as per sources cited by the Washington Post.
Trump confirmed these actions, explaining that the Secret Service and military insisted on him taking a different plane due to a perceived threat, which he claimed did not intimidate him. He minimized the risk to the individuals he left behind on the initial aircraft, including White House officials, security personnel, support staff, and journalists. Trump mentioned that he was directed to switch planes and didn’t inquire much about the threat, noting that he receives numerous threats regularly.
The decision to change planes raised security concerns. Trump had used a newly renovated jet donated by Qatar for the NATO summit in Ankara but surprised many by opting for an older Air Force One when leaving Turkey. This sparked inquiries regarding the security of the new aircraft, especially as tensions with Iran, Turkey’s neighbor, were escalating.
Before departing Ankara, Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he would fly to RAF Mildenhall in Britain in an older baby blue Air Force One for nostalgic reasons, while the new plane stopped for U.S. service members at the same base to tour it. Journalists who believed they were traveling on the older Air Force One, which acted as a decoy, were instructed to keep their window shades closed during the flight.
According to the Washington Post, apart from the journalists, some White House staff were also under the impression that Trump was onboard the older plane. When questioned about the need to keep the shades closed, Trump suggested it was due to potential dangers during the flight, humorously adding, “But if I go, you go. Right?”
