Retired Air Force officer warns that leaks of presidential decoy operations could endanger national security
Former presidential aide Robert "Buzz" Patterson said the Air Force One decoy maneuver used for President Trump was a standard security practice, but warned that public disclosure of such tactics could jeopardize future presidential travel.
Retired Air Force lieutenant colonel Robert "Buzz" Patterson, who served as a senior military aide to former President Bill Clinton and was responsible for the nuclear football, said the aircraft decoy operation that moved President Donald Trump from a Boeing 747 to a smaller C-32A in Ankara, Turkey, was a routine security measure. Patterson told Fox News Digital that the tactic, which involved transferring the president in a catering truck and escorting the decoy aircraft with fighter jets, had been used in previous administrations, including Clinton’s trips to Bosnia and Pakistan.
He cautioned that details of the operation leaking to the public could compromise the safety of presidents, military personnel, and the press corps. "I hope that they prosecute this to the fullest," Patterson said, adding that the leaker was likely someone with high-level access. He emphasized that only a small number of individuals are privy to the full plan by design, and that exposure could force a redesign of security protocols.
A senior Trump administration official confirmed that U.S. fighter jets escorted the decoy 747 on its flight to the United Kingdom and that senior officials and members of the press were aboard, with reporters instructed to keep window shades closed. Patterson said such fighter escort is standard when presidential aircraft travel to high-threat areas, noting similar practices during Clinton’s tenure.
Patterson stressed that the decoy and escort procedures are intended to protect the office of the presidency, not any individual president, and that they will continue under future administrations. He warned that public scrutiny of these tactics could have long-term repercussions for the ability to conduct surprise visits to troops or travel to dangerous regions.
The retired officer, who has authored several books, said the secrecy surrounding presidential travel is essential to national security and that attempts to expose the methods are "incredibly dangerous" and could endanger the entire security apparatus.