President Donald Trump has acknowledged that he secretly switched aircraft during a NATO summit in Turkey last month in response to intelligence suggesting an Iranian threat against his life. The presidential plane swap took place on July 8 but remained undisclosed until recent reports emerged this week.
According to Trump’s account, security officials from both the Secret Service and military directed him to board an alternate aircraft as a protective measure. The president stated that he complied with their recommendations, noting that the substitute plane he ultimately used may have faced heightened danger. Trump suggested that adversaries would likely have targeted the primary aircraft they expected him to occupy.
Details of the operation revealed that Trump was transferred via a catering vehicle and transported on a military plane while stationed in Ankara. The original Air Force One continued its flight carrying journalists and senior staff members who remained unaware of the president’s departure. The White House maintained strict confidentiality about the incident until The Washington Post disclosed the details this week, ending months of secrecy surrounding the security-driven maneuver.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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