Trump secretly flew from Turkey on military jet due to Iran threat
Trump took a secret military flight from Turkey last month, prompted by an Iranian threat, the Washington Post reports.
U.S. President Donald Trump secretly flew from Turkey on a military aircraft last month, after an Iranian threat prompted a change in travel plans, according to a report by the Washington Post. The president had arrived in Ankara for a NATO summit aboard the newly renovated, Qatari-donated Air Force One, marking the first international trip for that plane. But when departing, he used an older Air Force One in front of cameras, raising questions about the newer jet's security.
Citing a U.S. official familiar with the operation and another person aware of the president's travel, the Post reported that after boarding the older plane in Ankara, Trump was discreetly transferred via an airport catering truck to a smaller aircraft, an Air Force C-32A. That plane flew to Britain, landing at around 10:20 p.m., with the older Air Force One and the media arriving minutes later.
Trump said on Truth Social that he chose the older baby blue Air Force One "for old time's sake" to fly from Ankara to RAF Mildenhall in Britain, while the new plane stopped at the same base so U.S. service members could tour it. The White House, when asked about the secret flight, issued a statement from Communications Director Steve Cheung saying the Qatari-donated jet has high-level security protocols to ensure the safety of the president and his staff. Cheung added, "As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats." The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.