Trump reportedly used catering truck to sneak off Air Force One amid Iranian threats
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Trump reportedly used catering truck to sneak off Air Force One amid Iranian threats
Asif MerchantJohn BoltonFarhad ShakeriDonald TrumpUnited States Secret ServiceIslamic Revolutionary Guard CorpsBiden Administration

Trump's secret plane swap from Turkey highlights personal stakes of Iran war; he claims he thwarted Iranian assassination attempts, saying 'I got him before he got me'

Former President Trump claims he thwarted Iranian assassination attempts, stating, 'I got him before he got me.' His secretive plane swap from Turkey, involving a decoy Air Force One, underscores ongoing threats from Iran, which he insists remains a significant concern despite claims of military victory.

BBC BBC11 August 2026 · 11:40 UTC
CuriousCats Full Story

Former President Trump recently revealed that he believes he thwarted Iranian assassination attempts, stating, 'I got him before he got me. They tried twice.' This assertion comes amid reports of a secretive plane swap from Turkey, where Trump utilized a decoy Air Force One due to credible intelligence of an Iranian missile threat.

The operation, which took over a month to surface, highlights the ongoing dangers posed by Iran, despite Trump's claims of military success against the nation. Government security experts noted that such protective measures are standard when a president travels in or near a conflict zone.

In July 2024, an individual named Asif Merchant, allegedly linked to the IRGC, was convicted for plotting to kill Trump, while another suspect, Farhad Shakeri, remains at large. Trump has expressed that he feels constantly threatened by Iran, stating, 'I have read all the time I'm number one on their list.' He further warned on Truth Social that Iran had made threats against him, claiming, '1,000 missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran.'45678

The atmosphere of hostility was palpable, as evidenced by a banner reading '#KillTrump' at the funeral of Iranian leader Khamenei, and a mural in Tehran depicting Trump in a coffin with the words 'We will kill Trump.'

Key Insight
“Trump's claim follows a series of threats: in July 2024, Asif Merchant was charged for plotting to kill him, and Farhad Shakeri remains at large. Trump also posted on Truth Social that 1,000 missiles were 'Locked and Loaded' aimed at Iran.”
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“I got him before he got me. They tried twice. Well, I got him first.”
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Trump secretly switched planes in Turkey after Iranian assassination threat, report says; White House used catering truck to move him off Air Force One

U.S. President Donald Trump secretly flew out of last month’s NATO summit in Ankara, Turkiye on an alternate military aircraft while the White House made it appear he was on Air Force One, according to The Washington Post.

Catering TruckCbs NewsCongressional Investigation
2026-08-11
TL;DR by CuriousCats.ai
  • Donald Trump secretly flew out of last month’s NATO summit in Ankara, Turkiye, on an alternate military aircraft while the White House made it appear that the Republican president was flying on Air Force One, according to a report published by The Washington Post on Monday.
  • The operation was prompted by an Iranian assassination threat against Trump.
  • The ruse was carried out as journalists and some White House staff members were led to believe they were on the same plane as the president as he began his journey back to Washington from the annual gathering of NATO country leaders.
  • After boarding the legacy Air Force One jet, he was secretly shuttled minutes later to a smaller plane — an Air Force C-32A — via an airport catering truck typically used to load meals and other supplies.
  • White House communications director Steven Cheung stated that there are many enemies of America who have their sights on the president, and they use every tool at their disposal to address those threats.
  • Intelligence officials had raised concerns about a potential attack on the president or his jet, triggering additional precautions and the decision not to use the newly inaugurated aircraft gifted to Trump by Qatar for the first leg of Trump’s trip home from Ankara.
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