President Donald Trump secretly switched aircraft during his return from a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, last month as part of a security operation prompted by an Iranian assassination threat, according to The Washington Post.
Trump initially boarded an older Air Force One aircraft in view of television cameras. But according to the Post, he was then moved to a smaller Air Force C-32A using an airport catering truck before the plane departed for Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the United Kingdom.
The Post cited a U.S. official familiar with the operation, another person with knowledge of Trump’s travel and material reviewed by the newspaper. Reuters subsequently reported similar details, citing the Post and The New York Times.
Catering Truck Used in Secret Transfer
The reported operation was designed to prevent journalists and some White House personnel from knowing that Trump had left the older Air Force One.
According to the Post, Trump and several aides entered an airport catering truck that was raised to the aircraft’s door. The vehicle then transported them to the smaller C-32A, which was positioned separately.
Reporters traveling aboard the older Air Force One were reportedly instructed to keep their window shades closed during the flight.
The older presidential aircraft effectively served as a decoy while Trump traveled separately.
Trump Later Appeared to Leave Air Force One
Both aircraft traveled to RAF Mildenhall.
After arriving in Britain, photographers captured Trump getting off the older Air Force One aircraft, creating the appearance that he had remained aboard it for the flight from Turkey.
Trump then continued his journey to Washington aboard the newer Air Force One aircraft that had been donated by Qatar and retrofitted for presidential use.
The precise details of how Trump moved between the C-32A and the older Air Force One at Mildenhall have not been publicly established in the reporting available.
Operation Reportedly Triggered by Iranian Threat
The Washington Post reported that the deception was prompted by a credible Iranian assassination threat against Trump.
The development came amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran and concerns surrounding Trump’s security.
When reporters previously asked Trump about possible Iranian threats against Air Force One, he acknowledged that he faces threats regularly.
Trump said he was “number one on their list” and added that if something happened to him, the reporters traveling with him would also be at risk. The Washington Post had previously reported that Trump suggested Iran could have posed a threat to his aircraft after he unexpectedly switched planes in Turkey.
White House Defends Security Measures
The White House did not directly answer questions about the reported aircraft transfer, according to the supplied material.
White House communications director Steven Cheung said the administration uses available measures to address threats against the president.
“As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats,” Cheung said.
The White House had previously maintained that the Qatari-gifted aircraft was safe for presidential travel while acknowledging that additional upgrades would be made.
Questions Surround New Air Force One
The reported secret flight adds another chapter to questions surrounding the Boeing 747-800 that Qatar donated to the United States.
Trump began using the aircraft as a presidential jet in July. It was intended as a temporary “bridge” aircraft while Boeing works on the next-generation Air Force One planes.
The aircraft’s accelerated conversion has generated scrutiny over its security capabilities. The Associated Press previously reported that the aircraft did not appear to have at least some of the missile-detection and countermeasure systems found on the older presidential aircraft. The Air Force has said the conversion was completed without compromising security, safety or secure communications.
Trump later said the Qatari aircraft would receive additional upgrades and that he would return to the older Air Force One during that work.
Why the Aircraft Swap Matters
The reported operation illustrates the extraordinary security precautions that can surround presidential travel when officials believe there is a credible threat.
It also raises questions about how much information is shared with the presidential press corps and other personnel traveling with the president during sensitive security operations.
The use of a decoy aircraft is not without precedent. Reuters reported that a similar deception was used during President Bill Clinton’s 2000 trip to Pakistan, when an unmarked executive aircraft was used while the formal Air Force One served as a decoy.
What Happens Next
The White House has not publicly provided a detailed account of the reported aircraft transfer.
Meanwhile, scrutiny of the Qatari-gifted Air Force One continues, including questions about its security modifications and the decision to use an older aircraft for part of Trump’s return from Turkey.
The reported operation remains based primarily on accounts from officials and reporting by The Washington Post and The New York Times rather than a public White House description of the mission.
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