Trump publicly boarded Air Force One; then secretly switched flight – was Iran threat the reason?

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump was secretly transferred to a smaller government aircraft after publicly boarding the older Air Force One following the NATO summit in Türkiye, with the operation reportedly triggered by a credible Iran-linked assassination threat.

According to a Washington Post report, Trump publicly boarded the older Air Force One in Turkiye after attending the NATO summit on July 8.

Minutes later, however, Trump and several aides were secretly moved to a C-32A, a modified Boeing 757 used to transport senior US government officials.

The transfer was reportedly carried out using an airport catering truck. The vehicle was positioned on the side of the aircraft away from journalists and raised hydraulically to a plane door, allowing Trump to leave without being seen.

Air Force One reportedly used as decoy

The older Boeing 747 then departed with journalists and some White House staff still aboard.

The aircraft continued to use the Air Force One call sign, effectively making it a decoy while Trump travelled separately on the C-32A.

Some journalists and White House personnel reportedly did not know that Trump was no longer on the 747.

They were also instructed to keep the aircraft's window shades closed, which reportedly helped maintain the secrecy of the operation.

Iran threat triggered security operation

The report said a US official familiar with the operation described a credible threat to Trump involving Iran as the reason for the deception operation.

Türkiye was considered a particularly sensitive location because the country shares a border with Iran.

The operation was intended to conceal Trump's actual aircraft and movements while he left the country.

Three aircraft involved

Trump had arrived in Türkiye aboard the newer Boeing 747-8 that had been gifted to the United States by Qatar.

The newer aircraft was making its first international presidential trip.

The older Air Force One and the C-32A were also in Türkiye to support the president's travel.

The C-32A was reportedly flown to Türkiye alongside the two 747s before the summit.

Trump had publicly boarded older Air Force One

Before the secret transfer, Trump had boarded the older presidential aircraft in full view of cameras.

He had previously said he wanted to fly on the aircraft "for old time's sake".

The subsequent switch therefore allowed the publicly visible Air Force One to leave Türkiye while Trump's actual location remained concealed.

Both aircraft landed in Britain

According to material reviewed for the report, the former Qatari jet landed first at RAF Mildenhall in the UK.

The C-32A arrived later, followed by the legacy Air Force One several minutes afterwards.

Flight-tracking information for the C-32A was reportedly unavailable, although videos showing the aircraft's arrival were used to corroborate the movements.

It was not immediately clear how Trump was transferred back to the legacy Air Force One after landing.

A media pool report said Trump eventually exited the 747 at around 10:56 pm.

White House defends security measures

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended the security measures surrounding Trump's travel.

He said the new Air Force One had been equipped with high-level security protocols designed to protect the president and his staff.

Cheung also pointed to threats against Trump and said the administration uses available measures to address security risks.

Hegseth also used separate aircraft

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also reportedly boarded the C-32A separately using external stairs.

According to the report, his presence on the smaller aircraft helped make the flight appear routine rather than signalling that Trump had been secretly transferred.

Decoy flights have been used before

The use of a decoy aircraft for a US president is not unprecedented.

A US official cited in the report said Air Force One had been used as a decoy on other occasions over the past three decades because of serious security threats or presidential travel to dangerous locations.

However, the reported Türkiye operation was notable because journalists and some White House personnel travelling on the decoy aircraft were reportedly unaware that Trump was not aboard.

Analysis and explainer

The reported operation highlights the extent of security concerns surrounding Trump's movements after the NATO summit in Türkiye.

The central element was deception rather than simply additional protection. By keeping Trump on a smaller aircraft while the better-known Air Force One travelled separately, US security officials could make it harder for potential attackers to determine the president's actual location.

The operation also shows why presidential aircraft movements can involve multiple planes and misleading public signals. Air Force One is not simply a single permanent aircraft; the call sign is used by the aircraft carrying the US president.

The reported use of the legacy 747 as a decoy also raises questions about how much information can be withheld from even people travelling with the presidential entourage during a credible security threat.

The White House has not publicly detailed the specific Iran-linked threat that prompted the operation. The account is based on information reviewed by the Washington Post and officials familiar with the mission.