Donald Trump was secretly moved off Air Force One using a catering truck in Turkey last month, following reports of an Iranian assassination plot, according to The Washington Post.
Secret Transfer Details
The US president was transferred to a smaller military plane and flown out after the NATO summit in Ankara. The White House press corps and some senior aides on Air Force One were unaware, thinking Trump was still on board for the return trip to Washington.
Several reports last month indicated intelligence sources had raised concerns about a potential attack on the president or his aircraft.
Context of Threats
While Trump was in Turkey, the US conducted large strikes in Iran in retaliation for attacks on merchant shipping in the region. Trump had flown to the summit in a new Qatari-gifted, retrofitted red, white, and navy-blue jet.
Before leaving Turkey, he announced he would fly partway home on an older-model baby blue Air Force One. At the time, he said the new jet was being flown ahead to allow US troops in England to inspect it.
Deceptive Maneuver
Trump boarded the old Air Force One in full view of cameras, which then flew to Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the UK. However, the Post reports he was secretly taken off minutes later and escorted to a smaller Air Force C-32A via an airport catering truck.
Trump flew to Mildenhall on the smaller jet. Upon arrival, photographers captured him getting off the presidential plane, suggesting he was smuggled back on board in a similar ruse.
Official Responses
The White House did not directly respond to questions about the Post report. Communications director Steven Cheung previously said: '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.'
Paul Eckloff, a former Secret Service special agent, said such a move could reflect actionable intelligence or an abundance of caution given regional volatility. He told the Associated Press: 'I would not say unprecedented, but it is an unusual occurrence.'
When asked directly about credible threats from Iran, Trump said: 'Well, I have a threat all the time. I’m number one on their list before you.' He added: 'But if I go, you go.'
