Trump says his plane faced ’greater risk’ in secret flight change

U.S. President Donald Trump disclosed on Tuesday that his plane faced a greater security risk during a clandestine change of aircraft in Turkey last month, despite the replacement plane being deemed less secure than Air Force One. The decision to switch planes was reportedly prompted by an Iranian assassination threat, according to U.S. media reports.

The White House concealed the move until the Washington Post broke the story on Monday. Some commentators raised concerns over the safety of Trump's aides and journalists traveling with him on the substitute plane. Trump stated that he believed the substituted aircraft posed a higher risk, as it was more likely to be targeted by adversaries.

Following social media memes portraying him as secretive, Trump emphasized his adherence to Secret Service directives and military guidance. He admitted to receiving numerous threats and conceded that he had limited input in the decision-making process. The White House initially reported that Trump had flown on Air Force One from Turkey to Britain.

However, moments after boarding the plane, he clandestinely exited via a catering truck and boarded another aircraft for the journey to Britain, as reported by the Washington Post, citing unnamed sources. Trump utilized a newly refurbished Qatari-provided jet for the NATO summit in Ankara, but unexpectedly opted for an older Air Force One for the outbound flight, sparking questions about the newer aircraft's security and the expenses associated with its upgrades.

The trip marked the first international travel for the new jet, which came into service as Iran intensified its military actions near Turkey's border.