Trump Reveals Secret Plane Switch During Turkey Return Over Security Threat
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President Donald Trump said a security threat forced a covert change of aircraft on his July return from Turkey, prompting calls from congressional Democrats for a briefing.
President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday night that he was moved to a different aircraft after leaving Turkey in July because of a security threat. He said the decision was made by the Secret Service and the military, adding that the original plane "was at greater risk" and likely a target.
According to earlier reporting, Trump boarded an unmarked C-32 jet via a catering truck after initially appearing on Air Force One in Ankara. The aircraft flew to a base in the United Kingdom while members of the press and senior White House staff, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, remained on the decoy plane.
U.S. officials have linked the maneuver to a newly identified Iranian plot that may have involved a shoulder-fired missile aimed at Air Force One as it departed Turkey. Trump said he was not surprised by the threat, noting that "any consequential president has a lot of threats."
Congressional Democrats have requested a detailed briefing on the flight and the associated security concerns.