Trump secretly switched planes in Ankara over Iran threat: report

President Donald Trump's departure from last month's NATO summit in Ankara involved a covert operation to switch aircraft, according to a Washington Post report. The move was prompted by an Iranian assassination threat against the president, the report said.

Trump had arrived at the summit aboard a new, Qatari-gifted jet painted in red, white, and navy blue. Before leaving Turkey, he announced he would fly part of the way home on an older, baby blue Air Force One plane, saying the new aircraft was being flown ahead to allow U.S. troops in eastern England to inspect it.

Television cameras captured Trump boarding the legacy Air Force One jumbo jet in Ankara. However, the Post reported that minutes later, he was secretly moved to a smaller Air Force C-32A aircraft using an airport catering truck, typically used for loading meals. He then flew to Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the UK on the smaller plane.

The ruse reportedly kept journalists and some White House staff under the impression they were on the same aircraft as the president. The White House did not directly address the report but issued a statement through communications director Steven Cheung, saying, "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 Secret Service declined to comment, and the Air Force referred questions to the White House. The report is based on material reviewed by the Post, a U.S. official, and another person with knowledge of the travel plans.