- A credible missile threat led to a secret aircraft switch for Trump.
- Trump, along with Dan Scavino, Natalie Harp, and Walt Nauta, moved in a catering truck to a different aircraft.
- A decoy Air Force One carried Marco Rubio, Scott Bessent, Steven Cheung, and a press pool, including a Reuters correspondent.
- The Washington Post reported details of the operation this week, more than a month after it was carried out.
- Trump was in Ankara, Turkey, with his location known to Iranians, including the exact floor of his hotel.
- It was determined that it was in Trump's best interests to keep the ruse secret as hostilities escalated with Iran, which borders Turkey.
A credible missile threat led to a secretive operation by the Secret Service to move President Trump from Air Force One to a smaller C-32A jet during his July visit to Turkey. The threat was deemed credible and imminent, particularly as tensions with Iran escalated.1
On the final day of Trump's trip, the Secret Service acted swiftly after it was revealed that Iranian officials were aware of Trump's exact location in Ankara, including the floor of his hotel. This prompted a covert switch, with Trump and a few aides transported in a catering truck to avoid detection.2
Trump confirmed the switch was made at the Secret Service's direction, stating, “I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk,” suggesting that the smaller jet was less likely to be targeted. The operation was kept secret until recently, with the Washington Post first reporting the details over a month later.
While Trump was moved, a decoy Air Force One carried U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and other aides, along with a press pool. The decision to keep the operation under wraps was made to protect Trump as hostilities with Iran intensified, according to sources.3
The extraordinary measures taken underscore the heightened security concerns surrounding the president's travels, particularly in volatile regions.
“The Washington Post reported the operation this week, more than a month after it occurred, and The New York Times revealed that U.S. officials were alarmed that Iranians knew Trump's exact hotel floor in Ankara. The decoy flight included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and a 13-person press pool with a Reuters correspondent.”
