started · updated
Donald Trump secretly switched planes in Turkey to evade Iran threat FAST-MOVING
President Donald Trump has confirmed that he participated in a clandestine security operation in Turkey last month to evade a credible assassination threat from Iran. Following a NATO summit in Ankara, Trump was secretly transferred from Air Force One to a smaller Air Force C-32A aircraft using an airport catering truck to hide his movements.
While Trump boarded the presidential Boeing 747 in view of cameras, he was quickly moved via a catering container to the alternate plane. Air Force One then departed Turkey as a decoy, carrying White House officials, security personnel, and members of the press. Some reporters expressed frustration after discovering they had been unknowingly used as decoys in a high-risk flight.
Trump stated he followed the instructions of the Secret Service and the military, claiming that both aircraft offered “equal safety.” He downplayed the risk and noted that the secrecy surrounding the operation was maintained for several weeks. The operation was prompted by intelligence regarding a potential Iranian threat involving shoulder-fired missiles.
Entities
Air Force One · Ankara · Donald Trump · Iran · NATO · Secret Service · Turkey
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 8 SOURCES] Donald Trump used a catering truck to secretly transfer from a Boeing 747 to a Boeing C-32A while leaving Ankara, Turkey. dnyuz.com · www.theage.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · ca.news.yahoo.com · kesq.com · +3 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] U.S. officials concluded there was a threat from Iran involving a potential shoulder-fired missile attack against the presidential plane. dnyuz.com · www.theage.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · ca.news.yahoo.com · kesq.com · +5 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] The decoy flight included government employees, military personnel, and reporters who were unaware the president was not on board. dnyuz.com · www.theage.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · english.mathrubhumi.com · www.deccanchronicle.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Donald Trump stated he followed Secret Service instructions to swap planes and claimed both aircraft offered equal safety. www.theage.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · kesq.com · vinnews.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The security operation was designed to protect Donald Trump from a potential assassination attempt by Iran. kesq.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · lethbridgenewsnow.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Trump used an airport catering container to move from Air Force One to a different aircraft in Turkey. lethbridgenewsnow.com · panow.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Trump claimed the United States currently maintains total control over the Strait of Hormuz. english.mathrubhumi.com
- [● 10 SOURCES] Air Force One was used as a decoy while the president traveled on a separate aircraft. vinnews.com · english.mathrubhumi.com · lethbridgenewsnow.com · panow.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · +5 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] President Donald Trump stated that security officials and the military requested he use a different aircraft following a trip to Turkey. vinnews.com · english.mathrubhumi.com · lethbridgenewsnow.com · panow.com · kesq.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Reports indicated the security measure was due to a credible threat from Iran. vinnews.com · english.mathrubhumi.com · panow.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Author Garrett M. Graff noted that the duration of the secrecy regarding the president's whereabouts was unprecedented. lethbridgenewsnow.com · panow.com