Iran threatened - and Trump was secretly smuggled out of Turkey via a catering truck: the operation revealed
An Iranian threat against Donald Trump during his visit to Turkey in July led to a secret deception operation: the president boarded Air Force One in front of cameras, was secretly transferred to another plane, and flew to the UK while journalists remained on the decoy plane.
The details of an unusual operation have been revealed: an Iranian threat to assassinate US President Donald Trump led last month to a secret security operation, in which the president was flown from Turkey to the UK on a backup military plane, while the White House maintained the appearance that he was on board the old Air Force One. This was revealed by The Washington Post.
The secret mission was carried out without the knowledge of journalists and even some White House staff, who believed they were on the same plane as the president. The details are based on materials reviewed by The Post and on a US official familiar with the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The administration claimed that Trump left Turkey on July 8 on the old Air Force One. Trump even announced on social media that he would use the "former Air Force One" instead of the newer Boeing 747-8 gifted to the United States by Qatar. However, according to the report, the president did not remain on the plane he boarded in front of the cameras.
The Secret Transfer
Trump was in Ankara for a NATO summit. The operation took place the night after US forces resumed military strikes against Iran on the president's orders, following the failure of negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
In the evening, Trump boarded the old blue-and-white Air Force One in front of television cameras and waved. But a few minutes later, according to a US official, he was secretly transferred to a smaller US Air Force C-32A model plane.
The transfer was carried out using a catering truck, typically used to load food and supplies. The truck was lifted by a hydraulic system to a door on the other side of the plane, away from the entrance used by the journalists. Trump and some of his aides entered the truck, which then drove toward the nearby C-32A.
According to the US official, the old plane effectively became a "decoy": journalists and some White House staff remained on it and believed the president was with them, while Trump flew on the other plane. Thus, the president's true location was hidden for hours.
The Iranian Threat
A credible threat from Iran against Trump is what triggered the "deception operation." The New York Times and CBS News reported last month that intelligence officials identified a specific threat to harm the president or his plane, and special security measures were activated as a result. The concern intensified following Washington's involvement in the killing of senior Iranian military and political figures.
The operation took place a few days after Trump began using the Boeing 747-8 received from Qatar. The plane underwent upgrades, but according to reports, it lacks some of the defensive measures present on the old Air Force One planes.
A Route Designed to Deceive
The new plane received from Qatar took off first from Turkey on the evening of July 8. After members of the White House press pool boarded the old plane, staff instructed them to close the window shades. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth boarded the C-32A separately to make the flight appear routine.
When the president is on board the C-32A, its call sign is supposed to be "Air Force One." However, on this flight, the nondescript call sign "Reach 18" (RCH18) was used. At the same time, the old plane on which the journalists were located received the call sign "AF1."
After landing in the UK, Trump appeared before television cameras descending the stairs of the old Air Force One, creating the impression that he had arrived on the plane he boarded in Turkey. He later transferred to the new plane for the flight back to Washington.
In response to The Washington Post, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung stated: "The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft equipped with high-level security protocols. We use every tool at our disposal to deal with these threats."
