Trump secretly swapped planes in Turkey over Iran threat, report says

In a covert maneuver during his leave from a NATO summit in Turkey, former US President Donald Trump secretly swapped aircraft as he departed, according to US media reports. The president initially boarded Air Force One in the presence of cameras, but was subsequently transferred to a military aircraft via a catering truck, as detailed by the Washington Post.

This covert operation was allegedly initiated due to a credible Iranian threat to target the plane, as confirmed by officials to the BBC's US partner CBS News. Trump had earlier declared Iran as his "number one target" during the summit in Ankara. The White House has not officially confirmed this secret switch. The incident occurred a day after the US launched military strikes on Iran following the collapse of negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.

Trump had initially chosen to depart on the older Air Force One for nostalgia, but covertly transferred to a smaller C-32A military aircraft via the catering truck, which had been elevated to plane level on the opposite side from where he had boarded. This secret transfer aimed to obscure Trump's departure from the public eye. Journalists and some White House staff aboard Air Force One were unaware of the covert operation, as they were instructed to lower their window shades, per the Washington Post.

Trump subsequently flew to the UK en route to the United States, where he reboarded the older Air Force One and was seen descending from the aircraft upon landing at RAF Mildenhall. The president then transferred to the newly gifted Qatari-donated Air Force One to return to Washington. During this flight, Trump addressed journalists on board, discussing the threats posed by Iran but did not reveal details about the earlier plane swap.

When questioned about the rationale behind instructing journalists to close their window shades, Trump attributed it to the perceived dangers associated with his frequent travels. He emphasized his ongoing threats and declared himself Iran's top priority, stating, "If I go, you go, right?" The White House communications director, Steven Cheung, did not directly confirm or deny the reports, but affirmed that the new aircraft is equipped with state-of-the-art security measures to safeguard the president and his staff.

The White House has been investigating illegal leaks and is awaiting responses from journalists summoned to testify under oath. Additionally, a New York Times report previously highlighted security concerns regarding the Qatari-gifted jet, with the Secret Service urging Trump to switch planes upon his return from the NATO summit.