ANKARA, Turkey — President Donald Trump secretly left last month’s NATO summit aboard a smaller military aircraft while Air Force One served as a decoy, part of an elaborate security operation prompted by what U.S. officials described as a credible Iranian assassination threat.
Trump publicly boarded an older Air Force One in Ankara on July 8 as television cameras recorded his departure. Minutes later, he was covertly moved in an airport catering truck to an Air Force C-32A, which then flew him to RAF Mildenhall in Britain. Reporters and even some White House staff remained aboard the decoy aircraft believing the president was with them.
Journalists were instructed to keep their window shades closed during the flight. When later asked why, Trump responded that they were “probably on a dangerous flight,” without disclosing the deception.
The maneuver came amid heightened tensions with Iran and escalating military operations in the region. Trump had publicly acknowledged a potential assassination threat when questioned in Ankara but did not explain the unusual travel arrangements at the time.
Both the Washington Post and New York Times subsequently confirmed the operation through U.S. officials. The White House said it uses every available security measure because hostile actors have targeted Trump. Reuters independently confirmed key details of the operation.
The ruse echoed a 2000 security operation in which President Bill Clinton used an unmarked aircraft while traveling to Pakistan.
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