Trump secretly Moved Out Of Turkey (Img: X)
New Delhi: A dramatic security operation involving a catering truck, a military aircraft and a decoy flight was reportedly carried out to secretly move US President Donald Trump out of Turkey amid concerns over a possible assassination threat linked to Iran.
According to a report by The Washington Post, Trump was initially seen boarding the older, baby-blue Air Force One in Ankara after attending the NATO summit. However, after entering the aircraft, he was reportedly transferred in a hidden operation to a smaller US military aircraft that later flew him to Britain.
The report said that after Trump boarded Air Force One in front of cameras, an airport catering vehicle was used to quietly move him to a US Air Force C-32A aircraft. The unusual switch was part of a security measure triggered by what officials described as a credible threat against the US president.
The operation remained secret, with even some White House staff and members of the travelling press team reportedly unaware that Trump was no longer on the aircraft they believed he had boarded.
The covert transfer reportedly took place as tensions between Washington and Tehran were escalating. Turkey’s location added to security concerns as the country shares a border with Iran, and Trump’s visit came during a period of heightened geopolitical tensions.
Officials reportedly considered multiple options to protect the president, including changing aircraft and using deception tactics.
Before leaving Ankara, Trump had publicly announced on Truth Social that he would travel on the older Air Force One “for old time’s sake” to RAF Mildenhall in Britain. The newer aircraft, donated by Qatar, was also scheduled to travel to the same location so US military personnel could inspect it.
However, according to the report, the older Air Force One later appeared to function as a decoy while Trump was transported separately on the military C-32A.
Members of the travelling press pool were reportedly instructed to keep the window shades in the press cabin closed during the flight. When reporters later questioned Trump about the unusual instruction, he responded that it was “probably on a dangerous flight” and added, “But if I go, you go. Right?”
The military aircraft carrying Trump reportedly arrived in Britain before the media aircraft. Later, Trump was seen stepping down from the older Air Force One, greeting US service members and moving toward the Qatar-donated aircraft.
The White House said the security arrangements were necessary due to threats against the president. White House Communications Director Steve Cheung said the Qatar-donated aircraft had advanced security protections and that authorities use every available measure to protect the president and staff.
“Many enemies of America have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats,” Cheung said.
The reported operation has drawn comparisons with previous presidential security measures, including former President Bill Clinton’s 2000 visit to Pakistan, when a separate aircraft was reportedly used as a decoy.
The latest revelation highlights the extreme precautions taken by US security agencies when officials believe there could be a threat to the president’s safety.
