Trump boarded secret Turkey flight via catering truck due to Iran threat –Report

U.S. President Donald Trump took a secret military flight from Turkey to Britain last month in an operation in which he was moved between aircraft in a catering truck, an extraordinary deception prompted by a credible Iranian assassination threat, The Washington Post reported.

At the time, the White House said Trump was flying aboard Air Force One from Turkey, where he had attended a NATO summit, to Britain. But moments after boarding the aircraft, Trump secretly left it via an airport catering truck and boarded another plane for the flight to Britain, the Post reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources.

The New York Times published a similar report, citing unnamed U.S. officials.

Trump had flown to Ankara for the NATO summit aboard a newly renovated aircraft donated by Qatar. But as he prepared to leave Turkey, he unexpectedly announced that he would use an older Air Force One aircraft instead, raising questions about the security of the newer plane.

The NATO trip was the new aircraft's first international journey. It took place as hostilities between the United States and Iran were escalating, with Iran sharing a border with Turkey.

Secret aircraft switch

Before departing Ankara, Trump said on Truth Social that he would use an older, baby-blue Air Force One “for old time's sake” to fly to RAF Mildenhall in Britain. The new aircraft was also scheduled to stop at the same base so that U.S. service members stationed there could tour it.

After Trump boarded the older Air Force One in front of cameras in Ankara, he was secretly transported in an airport catering truck to a smaller aircraft, a U.S. Air Force C-32A, the Post reported, citing a U.S. official familiar with the operation and material it reviewed.

The deception operation was triggered by a credible threat against Trump, according to the Post.

A similar operation took place in 2000, when President Bill Clinton used an unmarked executive jet to enter Pakistan while his official Air Force One aircraft was used as a decoy.

On this occasion, journalists traveling with Trump believed that the president was aboard the older Air Force One. They were instructed to keep the window shades in the press cabin closed. The Post reported that some White House staff members also believed Trump was on board.

When reporters later asked why they had been required to keep the shades closed, Trump said they were “probably on a dangerous flight.” He then added: “But if I go, you go. Right?”

The C-32A carrying Trump arrived in Britain at around 10:20 p.m., while the older Air Force One and the media arrived minutes later, the Post reported.

It was unclear how Trump was transferred from the C-32A back to the older Air Force One.

Trump's traveling press pool reported that he descended the stairs of the older Air Force One at 10:56 p.m.

He gave reporters a peace sign but did not approach them to speak. He then spent some time greeting U.S. service members before walking over to the new Qatar-donated aircraft.

White House response

Asked for comment on the revelation that Trump had secretly traveled aboard a third aircraft, the White House provided a statement from Communications Director Steve Cheung.

Cheung said the Qatar-donated aircraft had been equipped with high-level security protocols designed to protect the president and his staff.

“As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats,” Cheung said.

The same statement was provided to The Washington Post.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Qatar-donated aircraft

The new aircraft features a red, white, dark-blue and gold color scheme chosen by Trump. It is a Boeing 747 that Qatar donated to the United States last year.

The aircraft was refurbished by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies.

It was intended to serve as a temporary replacement while Boeing struggled with delays in delivering the next-generation Air Force One aircraft.