US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he was secretly moved away from Air Force One during his recent trip to Turkey after the US Secret Service and military advised him to use a different aircraft because of a security threat.
Trump said he followed the advice of his security team and quietly left the presidential aircraft after attending the NATO summit in Turkey. The operation was reportedly carried out without informing many members of the travelling press corps and other personnel aboard Air Force One.
According to reports, Trump was discreetly transferred from the airport to another aircraft using a catering vehicle. Air Force One remained at the airport and effectively served as a decoy while Trump departed aboard a smaller US government aircraft.
The unusual security operation was reportedly linked to concerns over a potential threat from Iran. Trump has previously acknowledged that he faces threats and has said he takes security advice from the Secret Service and military seriously.
Explaining the decision, Trump said his security advisers wanted him on a different aircraft and that he followed their instructions. He also suggested that the alternative aircraft may itself have faced risks, underscoring the difficult security calculations surrounding presidential travel.
The incident reportedly took place following Trump’s participation in a NATO summit in Turkey. Details of the operation remained undisclosed for weeks before reports emerged about the secret plane switch and the use of the catering vehicle.
The episode has drawn attention because of the extraordinary measures used to conceal the President’s movements. While US presidents have previously undertaken secret travel arrangements for security reasons, the use of a decoy presidential aircraft and the secrecy surrounding the operation have generated fresh debate over presidential security and transparency.
The White House and US security officials have faced questions over the circumstances surrounding the operation, particularly regarding the nature of the threat and why the details were kept secret. Trump, however, has defended the decision, stressing that presidential security teams make such decisions based on available intelligence.
The revelation comes amid heightened tensions involving the United States and Iran, adding further significance to the extraordinary security precautions taken during Trump’s international travel.
