Top Trump aides flew on original Air Force One after president's secret departure from Turkey
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President Trump left Turkey on a concealed aircraft while Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, adviser Stephen Miller and communications director Steven Cheung remained on the older Air Force One, according to officials.
President Donald Trump boarded Air Force One in Ankara on a highly publicized arrival, but then slipped into a catering container and transferred to a separate aircraft that took him out of Turkey amid an alleged Iranian threat. The original plane continued its flight with a group of senior officials and members of the press, who were not informed of the change.
According to two sources speaking on condition, the passengers on the older Air Force One included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, domestic policy adviser Stephen Miller and White House communications director Steven Cheung. Rubio was aware of the threat, while the level of awareness among the other officials and journalists was unclear.
White House officials declined to comment on how the passenger list was determined or to provide a full roster of those on the decoy aircraft. The Washington Post first reported the secret flight on Monday, and the details were later confirmed by The New York Times.