Iran knew Trump's hotel floor, targeted his aircraft during Nato summit: Report

A New York Times report revealed that Iran had knowledge of President Donald Trump's precise location at the Nato summit in Ankara, and there was a possible threat targeting his aircraft. US officials disclosed to the NYT that they detected a specific surface-to-air missile threat aimed at the aircraft carrying the President. Additionally, there were reports of an Iranian operative spotted brandishing a shoulder-fired missile near the summit. Iranian intelligence was also believed to know the floor number of Trump's hotel room.

The gravity of the intelligence led to a complex security deception, with Trump initially boarding the older Air Force One but then secretly being transported out of the airport via a catering container to a military aircraft. The original Air Force One continued with senior US officials, government personnel, journalists, and military personnel aboard, ostensibly acting as a decoy. The passengers were reportedly unaware of the full extent of the threat.

According to the report, the operation may have shifted the potential risk from the President to those who remained on the presidential aircraft, which included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and senior White House aides Stephen Miller and Steven Cheung. These passengers were directed to keep the plane's window shades closed during the July 8 flight from Ankara to Britain.

Despite this, Trump later secretly rejoined the Air Force One before disembarking in front of cameras, giving the impression that he had traveled on the aircraft for the entirety of the journey.

The unusual maneuver has drawn criticism from some former White House officials, who argued that the passengers on the decoy aircraft should have been better protected or informed of the threat. Others defended the decision, stating that protecting the President warranted taking extraordinary measures during a credible threat. The White House declined to comment on the operation.

Trump later claimed he had heeded Secret Service advice and rejected suggestions that the passengers had been placed at greater risk, asserting that the aircraft he was traveling on might have been the more probable target.