US President Donald Trump secretly switched from Air Force One to a smaller military aircraft while leaving last month’s NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, in an operation reportedly designed to protect him from a possible Iranian assassination threat.
The Washington Post reported that Trump boarded an older Air Force One aircraft in Ankara before being transferred minutes later to a US Air Force C-32A. The move was carried out discreetly, while journalists and some White House staff members were led to believe the president remained aboard Air Force One.
The report, based on material reviewed by the newspaper and sources familiar with Trump’s travel arrangements, has not been independently confirmed by The Associated Press.
Trump had travelled to the NATO summit aboard a newly retrofitted aircraft provided by Qatar. Before leaving Türkiye, he said the plane would depart ahead of him so US military personnel at RAF Mildenhall in Britain could inspect it. He then boarded the older Air Force One aircraft in front of television cameras.
According to the Post, Trump was later moved to the smaller C-32A using an airport catering truck positioned beside the aircraft. The vehicle allowed the president and several aides to leave Air Force One without being seen by people outside the operation.
Reporters travelling with Trump were reportedly instructed to lower their window shades before takeoff. Trump flew to Mildenhall aboard the smaller aircraft, while photographers later captured images of him appearing to leave Air Force One after its arrival.
The White House did not directly address questions about the reported aircraft switch. Communications director Steven Cheung said the president faced threats from enemies of the United States and that authorities used available measures to protect him. The Secret Service also declined to comment, while the Air Force referred questions to the White House.
The reported security operation came as the US and Iran were engaged in a major military confrontation. Previous reports had said intelligence officials were concerned about a possible attack against Trump or his aircraft.
Trump’s newly provided Qatar aircraft had also attracted scrutiny over security concerns. The president has said the jet would undergo additional upgrades, while the White House has described it as a highly secure aircraft equipped with advanced protective systems.
Former Secret Service agent Paul Eckloff told the Associated Press that such a transfer was unusual but could reflect either specific intelligence or heightened caution because of instability in the region.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal called for a congressional investigation, describing the reported operation as highly unusual.
After the stop at Mildenhall, Trump boarded the new aircraft and continued his journey to Washington. Asked whether Iran posed a credible threat to Air Force One, Trump said threats against him were constant and suggested that those travelling with him would face the same risks.
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