Trump Reveals Security Threat Led to Secret Plane Swap After Turkey Visit
President Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday night that he made a secret switch of planes while returning from Turkey in July, citing a security threat as the reason for this clandestine maneuver. Trump explained to reporters that the decision was made by the Secret Service and military personnel, who advised him to take a different flight due to potential risks. He mentioned, "They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane. I guess there was a threat out there."
NBC News corroborated earlier reports from The Washington Post, revealing that Trump discreetly transferred to an unmarked jet using a catering truck on July 8, after initially boarding Air Force One in front of cameras. He flew from Ankara to a military base in the United Kingdom, while reporters and White House staff were led to believe he was still on Air Force One.
Trump remarked, "I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk. I think it was at greater risk because that would be the plane I think that they would be more likely to go for." However, he did not provide details on why the unmarked C-32 jet, which did not have the Air Force One call sign, would be a more likely target.
According to a U.S. official, the plane switch occurred amid a new Iranian plot to assassinate Trump, potentially involving a shoulder-fired missile aimed at Air Force One during its departure from Turkey. Those left behind on the original plane included members of the media and senior White House officials, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who are in the presidential line of succession.
Trump stated that he did not inquire much about the threat but expressed that he was not surprised by it, saying, "Any consequential president has a lot of threats. Nonconsequential presidents don’t get threatened, and I think that I may be the most consequential president."
In response to the revelation, Congressional Democrats are calling for a briefing from officials regarding the specifics of Trump's flight and the security threats that were present at the time.
