US intelligence officials reportedly questioned the credibility of an alleged Iranian assassination threat against President Donald Trump during his visit to Turkey for a NATO summit, even as security agencies adopted additional precautions for his journey home.
The alleged threat was passed to the CIA by Israel, but analysts reportedly considered the intelligence insufficiently convincing. Their concerns were communicated to officials in the Trump administration, according to current and former US officials familiar with the matter cited by The Washington Post.
One US official described the intelligence as originating from Israel rather than the United States and said it was considered low confidence.
Despite the doubts, security officials took the potential threat seriously. A confidential plan was arranged to move Trump from his usual aircraft to another military plane for part of his return journey.
The White House had given the impression that Trump would travel home aboard Air Force One after leaving Turkey on July 8. Instead, he secretly departed that aircraft and was transported in an airport catering truck to a separate plane, an Air Force C-32A.
Trump and a small group of senior aides then flew to Britain, where the president briefly stopped at RAF Mildenhall before transferring to the newly inaugurated aircraft that had been provided to the United States by Qatar.
The decision not to use the new aircraft for the first stage of Trump’s journey reflected concerns about a possible attack targeting either the president or his aircraft, according to officials familiar with the security arrangements.
A US official defended the precautions, saying Trump has faced numerous threats to his life, including threats linked to Iran, and that authorities take every possible measure to protect him.
“The United States Secret Service’s core mission is protecting the President,” the official said, adding that the agency had succeeded in doing so.
Trump himself acknowledged the existence of threats while speaking with reporters aboard the aircraft during his return trip. Asked whether there was a credible Iranian threat against Air Force One, he said he faced threats regularly.
“Well, I have a threat all the time,” Trump said, adding that he believed he was at the top of Iran’s list.
He also told reporters travelling with him: “But if I go, you go.”
The reported episode highlights the complicated security considerations surrounding presidential travel, particularly when intelligence agencies receive warnings that cannot be independently confirmed.
While US intelligence officials reportedly regarded the Iranian assassination information as low confidence, the Secret Service and other agencies proceeded cautiously, opting for additional security measures rather than relying solely on the intelligence assessment.
The incident also illustrates the continuing security concerns surrounding Trump, who has previously said he has faced threats from Iran and other potential adversaries.
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