Trump says his plane faced 'greater risk' in secret flight change
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he secretly switched planes in Turkiye last month at the direction of the US Secret Service, but that the plane he ultimately flew on was still more vulnerable than Air Force One. Following a NATO summit in Ankara, Trump was transferred from Air Force One to a military plane via a catering truck in an extraordinary deception prompted by an…
US President Donald Trump disclosed on Tuesday that his plane was exposed to a higher level of risk during a covert flight change in Turkey following a NATO summit in Ankara. The Secret Service had directed him to switch planes at the last minute due to a purported Iranian assassination threat, according to US media reports. The White House initially kept the alteration under wraps until The Washington Post broke the story on Monday.
Trump explained to reporters that he believed the plane on which he ultimately traveled was at greater risk because it was an older aircraft that might have been more susceptible to attack. He emphasized that he had no choice but to follow the Secret Service's instructions, as they were responsible for his protection. Trump, who often portrays himself as a bold and courageous leader, continued to frame the decision as a matter of following protocol.
This secret maneuver came after Trump arrived in Turkey aboard a newly renovated Qatari-donated jet for the NATO summit. However, he unexpectedly changed his departure aircraft to an older Air Force One, sparking questions about the newer plane's security. The move occurred as tensions with Iran were escalating, with hostilities intensifying along Turkey's northern border.
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