U.S. President Donald Trump was secretly transferred to a smaller military aircraft in Turkey last month after security officials received what was described as a credible Iranian assassination threat, according to reports by The Washington Post and The New York Times.
The highly unusual operation reportedly involved Trump boarding an older Air Force One in full view of cameras in Ankara before leaving the aircraft unnoticed and being transported across the airport in a catering truck.
He was then transferred to a smaller U.S. Air Force C-32A, which carried him to Britain.
At the time, the White House publicly indicated that Trump would travel from Turkey to Britain aboard the older Air Force One after attending a NATO summit in Ankara.
However, The Washington Post reported that the aircraft was effectively used as a decoy while Trump made the journey aboard the C-32A. The New York Times published a similar account, citing unnamed U.S. officials.
The elaborate security measure was reportedly prompted by intelligence concerning a credible threat against the president linked to Iran.
Trump had arrived in Ankara aboard a newly renovated Boeing 747 donated by Qatar, marking the aircraft’s first international presidential trip.
His decision to depart aboard the older Air Force One had already attracted attention, particularly because tensions with neighboring Iran were escalating at the time.
Before leaving Ankara, Trump said on Truth Social that he planned to use the older, baby-blue presidential aircraft “for old time’s sake” on the flight to RAF Mildenhall in Britain. He said the newer Qatari-donated jet would also stop at the base so U.S. military personnel stationed there could tour it.
According to The Washington Post, Trump boarded the older Air Force One in front of cameras before secretly exiting and being moved in the catering vehicle to the C-32A.
Reporters traveling aboard the decoy aircraft were reportedly instructed to keep their window shades closed during the flight. Some White House staff members were also unaware that Trump was no longer on board.
Asked later why journalists had been told to keep their shades down, Trump said they were “probably on a dangerous flight.”
“But if I go, you go. Right?” he added.
The C-32A carrying Trump reportedly arrived in Britain at around 10:20 p.m., with the older Air Force One and members of the traveling press arriving several minutes later.
It remains unclear how Trump was transferred back to the larger aircraft before his public appearance.
The White House press pool later reported seeing Trump descend the stairs of the older Air Force One at 10:56 p.m. He flashed a peace sign toward reporters before greeting U.S. service members and later walking toward the newer Qatar-donated aircraft.
White House Communications Director Steve Cheung declined to discuss specific details of the covert transfer but said the administration was using all available measures to protect Trump.
Cheung said the Qatari-donated jet had been equipped with enhanced security systems and noted that the president faced threats from multiple adversaries of the United States.
The Pentagon did not immediately comment.
The new presidential aircraft is a Boeing 747 donated to the United States by Qatar and refitted by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies. It is intended to serve as a temporary presidential transport aircraft while Boeing works to deliver the long-delayed next generation of Air Force One jets.