Kathmandu— Former United States President Donald Trump revealed that he secretly switched planes while traveling from the NATO summit in Turkiye on July 8th due to a perceived threat of assassination from Iran. The swap, orchestrated by the Secret Service and military personnel, involved moving Trump between aircraft via catering truck in Ankara, with the original Air Force One continuing onward carrying journalists and staff unaware of the change. Trump stated he deferred to security recommendations, adding that the decoy plane may have actually been at greater risk.
Details of the Aircraft Switch
Trump told reporters that he was advised by his Secret Service detail and military advisors to travel on a different aircraft than originally planned. He indicated he followed their guidance without question. The switch occurred in Ankara, where Trump transferred from Air Force One to another military plane using a catering truck as cover.
Perceived Threat Level
According to Trump, the decision was made due to potential threats originating from Iran. He surprisingly claimed that the decoy aircraft—the one he initially intended to travel on—may have been at greater risk of attack. “I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk,” he said. “I think it was at greater risk because that would be the plane I think that they would be more likely to go for.”
Information Concealment
The White House did not publicly acknowledge the aircraft switch at the time, and the operation remained concealed until recently when The Washington Post published a report detailing the event. Air Force One continued its scheduled flight with journalists and top aides onboard who were unaware that Trump had already departed on another plane.
The details of this incident emerged this week, shedding light on the security measures taken during Trump’s international travel. No further information regarding specific threats or ongoing investigations has been released.
(With inputs from Al Jazeera)
Originally published on abcnews.com.np.
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