President Donald Trump revealed he secretly switched planes during his return from Turkey in July due to a security threat. He stated that both the ‘Secret Service and the military’ were responsible for this decision. Trump explained, ‘They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane. I guess there was a threat out there.’
Reports from NBC News and The Washington Post confirmed Trump discreetly moved to an unmarked jet. This maneuver involved using a catering truck on July 8 after appearing to board Air Force One in front of media cameras. While others believed he was flying on Air Force One, Trump traveled on the untagged jet from Ankara to a UK base.
‘I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk,’ Trump commented, suggesting the plane might have been a more appealing target. Although he did not specify why the C-32 jet was a riskier option, its lack of the Air Force One designation might have played a role.
NBC News added details from a U.S. official, mentioning an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Trump. The plan possibly involved a shoulder-fired missile targeting Air Force One as it left Turkey. Meanwhile, the decoy plane carried members of the media and senior White House officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, both in the presidential line of succession.
Trump admitted he ‘didn’t really ask so much’ about the threat, adding that he was ‘not surprised’ by its existence. He noted, ‘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.’
Congressional Democrats have called for a briefing from officials regarding Trump’s flight and the related security threats.
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