Iran knew Trump's hotel floor, targeted his aircraft during Nato summit: Report

The United States intercepted intelligence indicating Iran knew President Donald Trump's precise location in Ankara and posed a missile threat to his aircraft during a NATO summit, according to a New York Times report. Two U.S. officials familiar with the intelligence revealed that authorities detected a specific surface-to-air missile threat against Trump's plane.

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The US intercepted several pieces of intelligence indicating Iran knew President Donald Trump’s exact location in Ankara during the NATO summit and that there was a potential threat involving a missile capable of targeting his aircraft, according to a New York Times report.

Further intelligence suggested Iranian operatives knew which floor of Trump's hotel he was staying on, and someone near the summit was reportedly seen with a shoulder-fired missile. This information was deemed serious enough to warrant an elaborate security maneuver.

Instead of departing on the usual Air Force One, Trump was secretly moved out of the airport inside a catering container and transferred to a military aircraft. The original Air Force One, carrying senior U.S. officials, government employees, journalists, and military personnel, departed as a decoy. Passengers on this decoy flight were reportedly not fully informed of the threat.

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Two US officials familiar with the intelligence told NYT that authorities detected a specific surface-to-air missile threat against whichever aircraft was carrying Trump.

The operation shifted potential risk to those aboard the decoy aircraft, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Passengers were instructed to keep window shades closed during the flight. Trump later rejoined Air Force One before public disembarkation, creating the appearance of a normal arrival.

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Someone near the NATO summit was also reportedly spotted with a shoulder-fired missile, while Iranian operatives were said to know which floor of Trump’s hotel he was staying on.

While some former White House officials criticized the decision, arguing passengers should have been protected or informed, others defended it as a necessary measure to protect the president during a credible threat. Trump himself stated he followed Secret Service advice and rejected the notion that passengers were placed at greater risk, suggesting his own aircraft might have been the more likely target.

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The passengers were instructed to keep the plane’s window shades closed during its July 8 flight from Ankara to Britain.