President Donald Trump secretly departed last month’s NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on an alternate military aircraft after Secret Service officials warned of a credible Iranian assassination threat targeting him and Air Force One, according to a Washington Post investigation published Tuesday.
The White House arranged for the president to fly on an older, blue-and-white Boeing VC-25 rather than the newly retrofitted Qatari-gifted Air Force One, while making it appear he was aboard the primary aircraft. Trump confirmed the switch in remarks to reporters, saying the Secret Service told him to take a “different plane” due to the threat. He described himself as “number one on their list” in Iran.
The revelation has prompted Democrats to demand a classified congressional briefing on the scope of the Iranian threat and the security protocols surrounding the president’s travel. Multiple lawmakers said the incident raises serious questions about whether the administration adequately communicated the danger to Capitol Hill at the time.
The episode unfolded during a period of heightened tension between Washington and Tehran, with the two countries exchanging strikes in the weeks surrounding the summit. The plane swap came as the U.S. escalated its naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman and Iran’s crude exports stalled at Kharg Island terminals.
Critics have pointed to Trump’s earlier dismissal of the security concern. When the aircraft change was first noticed in July, the White House characterized it as routine “misdirection.” The president himself joked about the switch at the time, telling reporters that if Iran struck Air Force One, “if I go, you go.”
The Washington Post report cited multiple people briefed on the matter who said U.S. intelligence assessed that Iranian proxy forces were actively targeting the president and his aircraft during the Ankara departure. The threat was considered credible enough to warrant the immediate and Secret Service-directed plane change.
National security experts said the incident underscores the real danger U.S. presidents face during international travel during active conflicts. It also raises questions about the security of the new Qatari-donated aircraft, which has drawn scrutiny over its provenance and whether foreign donations create vulnerabilities.
The White House has not yet responded to requests for additional comment on the security review or on whether any subsequent changes to presidential travel protocols have been implemented.
Sources:
AP News – Live updates: Trump says he was taken off of Air Force One due to threat
The Guardian – Trump plays down Air Force One plane switch as criticism grows
PBS NewsHour – Report: Trump used elaborate ruse to fly out of Turkey
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