Trump secretly switched to different plane in Turkey amid Iran threat

President Trump secretly departed Turkey on a different aircraft after a NATO summit last month, a maneuver undertaken due to a credible threat from Iran and its proxies, a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the matter revealed.

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The ruse was employed because the U.S. had learned of a threat from Iran and its allied proxies. U.S. intelligence had detected a credible plot to fire a missile at the plane Mr. Trump was on as he left the Turkish capital of Ankara, CBS News reported exclusively.

U.S. intelligence had detected a plot to fire a missile at the presidential plane as it was scheduled to leave Ankara. Trump himself had acknowledged the risks associated with the U.S.-Iran conflict, referring to himself as Iran's "number one target" during the summit. The Washington Post first reported on the secret plane-switching, prompting frustration among Trump administration officials over the leak of classified operational details.

Hours before the departure on July 8, Trump announced he would use the older Air Force One instead of a newer Qatari-donated jet he had used for the summit. He cited "for old time's sake" as the reason, adding that U.S. forces at a U.K. refueling stop could inspect the new plane. However, CBS News has reported that the Secret Service recommended he take the older plane for security reasons.

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The president had expressed awareness of the risks posed by the U.S.-Iran war, calling himself Iran's 'number one target' during the NATO summit.

Video footage showed the president boarding the older Air Force One, with a catering truck visible nearby. Minutes later, the truck moved to another U.S. government plane, identified by The Post as an Air Force C-32A, onto which Trump then transferred. He flew to a refueling stop in the United Kingdom on this separate aircraft, while the press and his staff traveled on the original Air Force One, unaware of the switch.

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Multiple Trump administration officials expressed frustration Monday night that highly classified tactics and procedures leaked into the public eye, potentially limiting future protective operations for U.S. presidents.

During their time in Ankara, press members were instructed to keep their window shades closed. When questioned later, Trump suggested it was due to the "sleazebags" they had to deal with, implying a dangerous flight. In the United Kingdom, Trump switched back to the newer Air Force One before continuing his journey to Washington, D.C.

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The president said he was switching planes 'for old time's sake,' and U.S. forces stationed at a U.K. refueling stop would be able to check out the new plane, but CBS News has reported that the Secret Service advised that he take the older plane for security reasons.