US President Donald Trump reportedly left Turkey on a secret military flight last month after authorities received what was described as a credible Iranian assassination threat, despite the White House publicly indicating that he was travelling aboard Air Force One.
According to The Washington Post, Trump had arrived in Ankara for the NATO summit aboard the newly renovated Boeing 747 donated by Qatar. However, he unexpectedly appeared to leave Turkey using an older Air Force One aircraft, raising questions about the security arrangements surrounding the new presidential plane.
The NATO trip was the first international journey for the Qatar-donated aircraft, which had undergone rapid upgrades amid scrutiny over its cost and security. The visit also came as tensions between the United States and Iran were escalating, with Iran sharing a border with Turkey.
Before departing Ankara, Trump said on Truth Social that he would travel to RAF Mildenhall in Britain aboard the older, blue-and-white Air Force One “for old time’s sake”. He said the new aircraft would also travel to the British base so US military personnel could tour it.
However, The Washington Post reported that Trump was secretly transferred after appearing to board the older presidential aircraft in front of cameras.
The report said Trump was transported from the airport in an airport catering truck before being taken to a smaller military aircraft, a C-32A, citing a US official familiar with the operation and other material reviewed by the newspaper.
The operation was reportedly launched because of a credible threat against Trump. A similar deception tactic was used in 2000, when then-President Bill Clinton travelled to Pakistan aboard an unmarked executive aircraft while an Air Force One decoy was sent ahead.
Journalists who believed they were travelling with Trump aboard the older Air Force One were reportedly instructed to keep their cabin window shades closed. The newspaper said some White House personnel also believed the President was on board.
When reporters later asked Trump why they had been told to keep the shades closed, he reportedly joked that they were “probably on a dangerous flight”.
The C-32A carrying Trump arrived in Britain at around 10.20pm, shortly before the older Air Force One carrying members of the media arrived.
It remains unclear how Trump was transferred back to the older presidential aircraft. His travelling press pool later reported seeing him descend the stairs of the aircraft at around 10.56pm UK time.
Trump then greeted US service members before proceeding towards the Qatar-donated aircraft.
The White House did not directly address questions about the secret flight. Communications Director Steve Cheung said the Qatar-donated aircraft had been equipped with high-level security measures designed to protect the President and his staff.
He added that the administration uses “every tool at our disposal” to address threats against the President.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The new presidential aircraft is a Boeing 747 featuring red, white, dark blue and gold colours selected by Trump. Qatar donated the aircraft to the United States last year, after which it was refitted by defence contractor L3Harris Technologies.
The aircraft is intended to serve as a temporary presidential plane while Boeing continues work on the long-delayed next-generation Air Force One aircraft.
