Top Cabinet Secretary Was With Trump on Secret Flight From Turkey

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accompanied President Trump on a secret flight departing from Turkey last month, bypassing the publicly identified Air Force One. Sources familiar with the situation revealed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent were on a separate decoy flight, maintaining the line of succession while aware of the president's alternative travel.

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for old time's sake

White House aides Natalie Harp, Walt Nauta, and Dan Scavino were also aboard the undisclosed aircraft with Mr. Trump. The president had initially announced he would use the older Air Force One instead of a newer Qatari-donated jet for his departure from Ankara after the NATO summit. He cited "for old time's sake" and the ability for U.S. forces to inspect the new plane, but CBS News has reported that the Secret Service recommended the older aircraft for security reasons.

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wanted me to go in a different flight.

Mr. Trump told CBS News that the military and Secret Service initiated the secret flight due to security threats. "Any consequential president has a lot of threats," he stated, noting that the plane he used was likely at greater risk. Video footage showed Mr. Trump boarding the old Air Force One, with a catering truck later seen driving to another U.S. government plane, identified by The Washington Post as an Air Force C-32A. This separate trip, which had not been publicly disclosed, saw Mr. Trump fly to a refueling stop in the United Kingdom while the press and other staff traveled on Air Force One, believing they were with the president. Reporters were asked to keep window shades closed on Air Force One's press cabin, with Mr. Trump later explaining it was likely due to "sleazebags" and a dangerous flight.

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Any consequential president has a lot of threats