Trump left Turkey on secret military flight after Iranian threat: Washington Post

The Washington Post has reported that US President Donald Trump secretly left Turkey last month on a military flight, after the White House had announced he would depart aboard Air Force One. The unusual move was prompted by an Iranian threat to assassinate him.

Trump had arrived in Ankara for a NATO summit on the newly refurbished presidential aircraft, which was recently provided by Qatar. However, upon departure, he unexpectedly boarded an older presidential plane, raising questions about the safety of the new aircraft.

According to the Washington Post, the trip to the NATO summit was the new plane’s first international journey. Its rapid upgrades had already sparked concerns about cost and security. The visit took place amid heightened tensions and military activity involving Iran, which borders Turkey.

Before leaving Ankara, Trump posted on Truth Social that he would use the older, light-blue presidential aircraft “for old times’ sake” to travel from Ankara to RAF Mildenhall in the UK, while the new plane would also stop at the same base for US military personnel to inspect it.

The Washington Post, citing a US official familiar with the operation and documents reviewed by the paper, reported that after Trump boarded the older Air Force One in front of cameras in Ankara, he was secretly transferred via an airport catering truck to a smaller US Air Force C-32A jet.

The American newspaper said the decoy operation was in response to a credible threat targeting Trump. A similar tactic was used in 2000, when former President Bill Clinton traveled to Pakistan on an unmarked business jet while his official plane acted as a decoy.

In the latest incident, journalists who believed they were flying with Trump on the older Air Force One—which was actually used as a decoy—were instructed to keep the press cabin window shades closed. The paper reported that some White House staff also thought the president was on board.

When later asked by reporters why they had to keep the window shades closed during the flight, Trump said it was likely because they were “on a dangerous trip.” He added, “But if I go, you go too. Right?”

The paper said the C-32A jet carrying Trump flew to the UK, arriving at around 10:20 p.m., with the presidential aircraft and media arriving minutes later. It was unclear how Trump was transferred back from the C-32A to the older Air Force One.

When the White House was asked to comment on Trump’s secret flight aboard a third aircraft, it issued a statement from communications director Steve Chang, saying the new plane is equipped with high-level security protocols to ensure the safety of the president and his staff.

Chang said: “As the president has recently stated, there are many enemies of America targeting him, and we use every means available to counter those threats.” This was the same statement provided to the Washington Post.

The new aircraft, which Trump chose to have painted in dark blue, red, white, and gold, is a Boeing 747 gifted to the US by Qatar last year and refitted by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies. It was intended as a temporary replacement as Boeing faces significant delays in delivering the next-generation Air Force One planes.