President Trump secretly left the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, last month using a third military aircraft, according to a report from The Washington Post. The move was part of a security operation designed to protect the president from potential Iranian threats, which had escalated following the collapse of negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.
The operation involved Trump initially boarding the older Air Force One jet, which then served as a decoy. While White House staff and reporters remained on the decoy, Trump was covertly transferred to a smaller Air Force C-32A plane inside a catering truck, a method typically used for loading meals and supplies. A U.S. official confirmed the details, and the Post reviewed corroborating material.
The president's departure came just before renewed U.S. strikes on Iran, after talks to end the conflict broke down weeks after an interim peace deal. Trump had begun using the new Air Force One days before the threats from Iran emerged, according to the report.
The White House had previously said Trump left the summit aboard the older Air Force One. The Post reported that not all White House staff were aware of the plan, which involved the third aircraft. The New York Times later confirmed the Post's reporting.
White House communications director Steven Cheung did not directly address the story when asked by NewsNation, but emphasized that the new Air Force One, a gift from Qatar, is a "state-of-the-art aircraft" with "high-level security protocols" ensuring the president's safety. Cheung added, "As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats."
The U.S. Air Force told NewsNation that the presidential mission requirements "were carefully crafted to prioritize mission over aesthetics," leaving much of the previous head of state interior layout minimally changed. The statement also noted, "No risk was taken in security, safety or mission communications, but the collective team made trades on some of the less commonly used mission sets that Boeing must deliver to support the next 40 years."
The Boeing 747-8, gifted by Qatar, has been under scrutiny following security threats on Trump's life by Iran. Trump told reporters last month that the new Air Force One will undergo security upgrades and be "maxed out."
This incident underscores the heightened security concerns surrounding the president, particularly in the context of Middle East tensions and Iran's demands. The use of a decoy aircraft is a rare and dramatic measure, reflecting the seriousness of the threats. The situation also comes amid Iran's counterclaims and the fragile state of diplomatic efforts, as highlighted by Trump's counterclaims for reparations.
