U.S. President Donald Trump said he secretly switched aircraft in Turkey last month on the instructions of the U.S. Secret Service, following an alleged Iranian assassination threat, in an operation that saw him transferred from Air Force One to a military aircraft through a catering truck.
Trump made the comments after U.S. media reported that the unusual security operation took place following the NATO summit in Ankara. The change was kept secret until the Washington Post reported it on Monday.
Trump said the aircraft he ultimately used may actually have been more vulnerable than the Air Force One plane that served as a decoy.
“I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk,” Trump told reporters.
He said he did not ask extensively about the threat and simply followed instructions from the Secret Service and the military.
“I just follow what they’d like to do,” Trump said, adding that he receives “a lot of threats.”
According to U.S. media reports, Trump initially boarded the older Air Force One in Ankara in front of cameras before being secretly moved through an airport catering truck to an Air Force C-32A. The aircraft then flew him to Britain, while the Air Force One plane continued with members of the traveling press and some White House personnel who believed Trump remained aboard.
The operation has raised questions about the security implications for those who remained on the decoy aircraft. Trump said the decision was made by the Secret Service based on the security situation at the time.
Trump had travelled to Ankara aboard a newly renovated Boeing 747 donated by Qatar, which made its first international trip during the NATO summit. He unexpectedly announced before leaving Turkey that he would instead use an older Air Force One aircraft, prompting questions about the security of the Qatar-donated plane.
The secret aircraft switch came amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, which borders Turkey. The revelation has also drawn attention to the security challenges surrounding Trump’s international travel and the extensive measures used to protect the president.
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