Trump Secretly Flew From Turkey on Alternate Aircraft Amid Iranian Assassination Threat – WaPo
An Iranian assassination threat against President Donald Trump prompted an extraordinary operation last month in which he secretly flew from Turkey aboard an alternate military aircraft while the White House said he was on Air Force One, The Washington Post reports.
The operation, previously unreported, was unknown to journalists and some White House staff who believed they were traveling with Trump, according to material reviewed by The Post, a U.S. official and another person familiar with his travel.
The administration said Trump left Turkey July 8 aboard the former Air Force One, the legacy blue-and-white Boeing 747, rather than the newer Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar, which had flown him to Turkey. Security concerns had been raised about the Qatari aircraft, which Trump said would receive additional upgrades.
After Trump boarded the legacy Air Force One in view of cameras in Ankara, he was secretly moved minutes later to a smaller Air Force C-32A using an airport catering truck, according to the official and corroborating material. The 747 became a decoy carrying journalists and some staff.
The operation followed a NATO summit and the resumption of U.S. strikes on Iran after negotiations collapsed. Trump’s actual location was concealed from the public and many senior officials for hours after a credible Iranian threat triggered the deception operation. Intelligence officials had previously flagged a specific threat against Trump or his aircraft.
Trump and aides exited the 747 through a catering truck, while journalists were told to close their window shades. The C-32A had arrived alongside both 747s and flew Trump to Britain under the call sign “Reach 18” or “RCH18,” with flight tracking reportedly disabled. The Qatari jet flew to Mildenhall as “SAM 33,” while the decoy 747 later appeared on radar and landed in Britain. Trump later appeared aboard the legacy 747 before transferring to the Qatari aircraft for Washington.
The White House said the Qatari jet has “high-level security protocols.” The Pentagon referred questions to the White House and the Secret Service did not respond. The Air Force called the aircraft safe, secure and equipped for presidential missions.
Trump later acknowledged a constant threat to his life but did not disclose the deception, telling reporters Iran is a serious threat and that he has a “threat all the time.”
Use of a decoy Air Force One has precedent, including during Bill Clinton’s 2000 Pakistan trip. Ronald L. Rowe Jr., a former acting Secret Service director, said protecting the president is paramount and security methods should remain private.
