Trump secretly transferred to smaller aircraft in Turkey after Iranian threat
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U.S. officials say the president was moved from Air Force One to a C-32A via a catering cart in Ankara following a credible Iranian assassination threat.
Donald Trump left Ankara, Turkey, on a covert military flight after a credible Iranian threat, U.S. officials said. While the president appeared on camera boarding the older Air Force One, he was later transferred in an airport catering cart to a smaller C-32A aircraft, which then flew to the United Kingdom. The operation, described by a U.S. official to the Washington Post and confirmed to the New York Times, was intended to conceal the president’s location from journalists and some White House staff.
The move occurred during a NATO summit, and the White House later issued a statement through communications director Steve Cheung emphasizing that the Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8 and other aircraft have high-level security protocols to protect the president. Cheung added that “there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats.”
Reporters on the older Air Force One were instructed to keep window shades closed, and Trump later told them the flight might have been dangerous. The C-32A arrived in Britain around 10:20 p.m. local time, followed shortly by the older Air Force One and the press pool. Trump was seen disembarking, greeting service members, and then moving to the newer Qatar-donated jet.
The Guardian sought comment from the White House and the Department of Defense but had not received a response at the time of publication.