Trump reportedly smuggled off Air Force One in catering truck amid Iran missile threat

On July 8, Donald Trump reportedly exited Air Force One in Turkey on a catering truck amid concerns over an Iranian missile threat, raising questions about US security practices. The Washington Post reported that Trump covertly left the plane while it was grounded to avoid an assassination attempt. Some journalists traveling on the same flight expressed anger at being used as decoys, while others criticized the White House for a lack of communication.

Trump boarded the plane openly, with supply containers visible on the aircraft's exterior. However, he was reportedly quickly transferred to a smaller US Air Force aircraft via a cargo container. A dozen journalists unaware of the switch continued their flight to Turkey despite the threat, as Iran is at war with the United States.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel had warned the US about the potential missile strike, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio remained on the plane. Shoulder-to-air missile threat? "When you sign up to work at the White House, even as a civilian, part of your job is to defend the president," an unnamed White House reporter told the Post.

The incident occurred during Trump's NATO summit trip, after he arrived in a luxury Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar and retrofitted to accommodate the US president. However, the plane lacked anti-missile security systems, prompting the use of the old Air Force One.