Trump confirms he secretly swapped planes as he left Nato summit due to possible threat

President Donald Trump disclosed on Tuesday that he covertly switched aircraft while departing a NATO summit in Turkey last month due to a potential threat. "I just have to do what they say," Trump told reporters, expressing his compliance with the Secret Service and military. Reports suggest the president initially boarded Air Force One on July 8, but was secretly transferred to a military aircraft using a catering truck as a decoy.

The switch has sparked concerns about whether those on the decoy plane were at risk, though Trump maintained the military jet he boarded was more vulnerable. Intelligence sources revealed a credible Iranian threat to launch a missile at the plane. Staff and journalists on board were unaware of the president's reassignment. The New York Times reported that officials disclosed Secret Service and military personnel remained on the original plane.

Trump attributed his frequent threats to Iran and claimed he is their "number one target." He flew to the UK and later returned to the U.S., where he resumed his journey on the same original plane.