Trump says he switched planes after Nato summit because of possible Iran threat
US President Donald Trump has revealed that he was secretly moved to a different aircraft after leaving a NATO summit in Turkey last month following a credible threat of a possible Iranian missile attack.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said the decision was made by the US Secret Service and military authorities, and that he followed their instructions.
“They wanted me to go in a different flight, different plane. I just have to do what they say,” Trump said.
The disclosure follows reports that Trump appeared to board Air Force One at Ankara airport on July 8 in front of television cameras, before being secretly transferred to another military aircraft in an elaborate security operation.
According to US officials cited by CBS News, American authorities had detected what they considered a credible Iranian threat to launch a missile at the presidential aircraft.
The operation reportedly involved Trump leaving Air Force One through an unusual route. According to The Washington Post, he was moved from the presidential aircraft onto an elevated catering truck on the opposite side of the plane from where he had boarded. The vehicle then helped transfer him to another aircraft without attracting public attention.
Journalists and some White House staff members travelling with the president were reportedly unaware that Trump had been removed from the aircraft as part of the security operation.
The incident has raised questions over whether those who remained aboard the decoy aircraft could have been exposed to the same potential threat. Trump, however, said the military aircraft he ultimately boarded was itself at greater risk.
“I guess there was a threat out there,” Trump said during a visit to Ohio on Tuesday. He added that he did not ask for many details about the threat because he receives numerous warnings about possible attacks.
“I have a lot of threats that you don’t know about,” Trump said.
The secret manoeuvre took place shortly after Washington resumed military strikes against Iran following the collapse of negotiations aimed at ending the conflict between the two countries.
Trump had travelled to Turkey aboard a newer Boeing 747-8 aircraft donated by Qatar. However, he had announced that he would depart aboard the older Air Force One aircraft, describing the decision as being “for old time’s sake.”
Television footage on July 8 showed Trump boarding the presidential aircraft at Ankara airport. The subsequent secret transfer was not immediately apparent to the public.
Trump has previously claimed that he was Iran’s “number one target” during the NATO summit in Ankara.
The revelation has now highlighted the extent of the security measures surrounding the US president amid heightened tensions with Iran and renewed concerns over potential attacks on American leaders and military assets.
