US president says security officials ordered him onto a different aircraft after Nato summit
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he secretly switched planes after leaving a Nato summit in Turkey last month because of a possible security threat.
Trump confirms secret switch
Trump said Secret Service and military officials instructed him to use a different aircraft after the summit.
“I just have to do what they say,” he told reporters, adding that the alternative plane may actually have been at greater risk because it was the aircraft a potential attacker would have been more likely to target.
Possible Iranian missile threat
US officials told CBS News that American intelligence had detected a credible Iranian threat to fire a missile at Trump’s aircraft.
The New York Times also reported that intelligence had identified a person near the Nato summit who was allegedly seen with a shoulder-fired missile.
Trump had previously said he was Iran’s “number one target” during the summit in Ankara.
Elaborate airport ruse
Trump had arrived in Turkey aboard a newer Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar but planned to leave on the older Air Force One.
Footage showed him boarding the presidential aircraft on 8 July. However, according to reports, Trump later left the aircraft through a catering truck and was secretly taken to a smaller C-32A military aircraft, normally used for senior government officials.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly boarded the C-32A separately, helping make the flight appear routine.
Journalists kept unaware
Journalists and some White House staff remained aboard the original Air Force One and were reportedly instructed to keep their window shades closed.
The aircraft continued using the “AF1” call sign, while Trump’s C-32A used “Reach 18” to maintain the deception.
Members of Trump’s cabinet, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, were reportedly among those who remained on the original aircraft.
Questions over media safety
The secret operation has raised concerns about whether journalists and other passengers left aboard the decoy aircraft were exposed to unnecessary danger.
Jose Zamora, regional director for the Americas at the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the administration has a responsibility to ensure journalists covering the president are not unnecessarily placed at risk.
He also said reporters should be informed of credible security threats so they can make informed decisions about their safety.
Trump says threats are routine
Trump later rejoined the older Air Force One before travelling back to the United States and eventually transferred to the newer aircraft donated by Qatar.
He said he receives threats “all the time” but acknowledged that he had not asked officials for extensive details about the threat that prompted the secret plane switch.
