Trump's Reported Plane Switch Amid Iran Threat 'Downright Scary': Senator
Trump appeared to leave Turkey on Air Force One but reportedly was moved to a smaller Air Force plane in a catering truck.
According to a report from The Washington Post, President Donald Trump secretly switched aircraft while departing Turkey last month, raising questions about the security threats he faced amid rising tensions with Iran. The Post claims Trump initially departed Ankara aboard the older Air Force One but was discreetly moved to a smaller Air Force C-32A in a catering truck.
The larger aircraft then continued to Britain, acting as a decoy while Trump traveled separately, according to a U.S. official and another person with knowledge of the president's travel. The unusual reported security operation followed Trump's arrival in Turkey for the NATO Summit aboard a newer aircraft donated by Qatar. Senator Richard Blumenthal expressed strong concern over the report, describing the circumstances as "downright scary" and "unprecedented."
He emphasized the need for a congressional briefing to learn more about the security threat. Blumenthal questioned what precautions were taken to ensure the safety of passengers on the initially used Air Force One, which was deemed too dangerous for the president to fly on. Former advisers to former presidents shared similar concerns, with David Axelrod stating it was "stunning" to think about the decoy being kept in the dark, and Scott Jennings calling the situation "highly unusual."
The incident has sparked questions about the security of the newer Air Force One aircraft and what intelligence, if any, may have prompted the extraordinary precautions.
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