Trump Switched Aircraft Secretly In Turkey Over Credible Missile Threat

A credible and imminent threat that a shoulder-fired missile could target Air Force One prompted the US Secret Service to secretly move President Donald Trump onto an unmarked government aircraft during his visit to Turkey last month, according to a person briefed on the matter. The threat emerged on the final day of Trump's visit to Ankara for the NATO summit, when tensions with Iran were elevated, the source said. The Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting the president, assessed the threat as serious enough to warrant an extraordinary security operation aimed at concealing Trump's movements.

The source, who spoke about the security operation, declined to disclose where the intelligence originated. The reported possibility of a shoulder-fired missile attack presented a particular security concern because such weapons can be deployed from the ground and used against aircraft at relatively short distances, making presidential travel arrangements especially sensitive. According to the source, Trump and a small group of aides were moved discreetly from the large blue-and-white presidential aircraft onto a smaller, unmarked C-32A government jet on July 8. The switch was carried out using a catering truck as part of an effort to conceal the president's movements and prevent observers from identifying the aircraft carrying him.

Air Force One subsequently departed separately, carrying senior administration officials, White House staff and members of the travelling press corps. The unusual arrangement meant that the aircraft traditionally associated with the president continued its journey without Trump aboard, while the president travelled on the smaller government aircraft. Trump confirmed on Tuesday that he had switched aircraft during the trip, saying the decision was made at the direction of the Secret Service. He travelled from Ankara to a refuelling stop in Britain without incident. His comments provided confirmation of the previously unusual circumstances surrounding his departure from Turkey, although the newly reported details offer further explanation of why the security team ordered the change.

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The incident occurred against a backdrop of heightened tensions involving Iran and broader security concerns surrounding US military and diplomatic activity. Presidential travel is routinely subject to extensive security planning, but the reported threat prompted measures that went beyond the normal precautions associated with a presidential overseas trip. The use of an unmarked C-32A was particularly notable because Air Force One is one of the most recognisable symbols of the US presidency. Moving Trump onto another aircraft reduced the ability of potential attackers or observers to identify which plane was carrying the president.

Keeping the change secret also helped protect the president's route and movements during the sensitive departure from Turkey. The operation also meant that the travelling press corps and other officials aboard Air Force One did not accompany Trump on the flight out of Ankara. The president's movements were therefore concealed from members of the media who would ordinarily travel with him during an overseas trip. The reported missile threat illustrates the security challenges involved in protecting a US president during international travel, particularly during periods of heightened geopolitical tension.

While Trump's flight to Britain proceeded without incident, the decision to change aircraft demonstrates the extent to which presidential security officials can alter travel arrangements when intelligence indicates a potential threat. The person briefed on the matter did not identify the source of the intelligence or provide further details about the nature of the alleged threat. As a result, the circumstances surrounding the warning remain classified or undisclosed. The Secret Service's decision, however, underscores the seriousness with which the threat was assessed at the time.

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