Trump claims military jet posed greater risk than decoy Air Force One after secret swap
Officials detected threat to fire missile at plane, but Trump later argued the replacement aircraft was at greater risk, raising questions over security protocols for media and cabinet members left on the decoy jet.
US President Donald Trump has confirmed he secretly swapped aircraft upon departing the NATO summit in Turkey, citing a credible Iranian missile threat. Footage captured the President boarding the decoy Air Force One before being transported via a catering truck to a military C-32A jet. While officials stated the US had detected a threat to fire a missile at the plane, Trump later claimed the replacement aircraft was at greater risk. Journalists and cabinet members remained on the decoy jet, which was instructed to keep window shades down during the flight.
Trump told reporters he was instructed by the Secret Service and military to use a different plane, stating, "I just have to do what they say." The revelation follows reports that US intelligence received information regarding a person near the NATO summit in Ankara seen with a shoulder-fired missile. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth boarded the C-32A separately using external stairs to maintain the appearance of normal operations, according to the Washington Post.
The clandestine manoeuvre occurred a day after the US renewed military strikes on Iran. Trump had arrived in Turkey aboard a newer Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar but announced he would leave on the old Air Force One. On 8 July, footage showed him boarding the presidential jet at Ankara airport before slipping off onto a catering truck elevated to plane level. He was then secretly taken to the smaller C-32A, a modified Boeing 757 often used by the vice-president.
Journalists and some White House staff on the decoy jet were unaware the President had been smuggled out. A media pool producer noted it was unusual to be told to keep window shades down, and a photographer who briefly opened a shade was quickly told to close it. The White House Correspondents' Association reported there appeared to be two catering trucks at both the front and back of the plane. Remaining on the original aircraft were members of Trump's cabinet, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The incident has drawn scrutiny regarding the treatment of the media pool. Jose Zamora of the Committee to Protect Journalists stated the administration has a responsibility to ensure journalists are not unnecessarily exposed to danger and should be informed of credible security threats. Trump later flew to the UK en route to the US, reboarding the legacy Air Force One at RAF Mildenhall, though the method of transfer from the C-32A remains unclear.
