Trump Reveals Secret Plane Switch After NATO Summit Amid Iranian Threat

Former President Donald Trump confirmed that he secretly swapped aircraft after leaving a NATO summit in Turkey, citing a credible Iranian missile threat.

Trump told reporters that he had been instructed by the Secret Service and military to transfer to a different flight. He said, “I just have to do what they say.”

The switch followed footage of Trump boarding the presidential jet at Ankara airport on 8 July. After boarding, body‑guards arranged for a catering truck to be raised to aircraft‑door level, allowing Trump to exit the Air Force One on the opposite side and board a smaller C‑32A military aircraft without the journalist and White‑House staff aboard having known of his absence.

Officials each week to local CBS News, the United States had detected a credible Iranian threat to launch a missile at the presidential plane. The smaller jet is thought to have presented a lower risk.

Trump’s comments follow the U.S. renewing military strikes on Iran after negotiations stalled. He had earlier announced that he would leave the newer Boeing 747‑8 that had been donated by Qatar and “previously was on the older Air Force One, 'for old time’s sake'.”

His move has sparked debate over security protocols for the president’s safety during international trips, as well as the safety of journalists who were unaware of the covert switch and the risks they faced.