During a Nato summit in Ankara last month, Donald Trump was reportedly involved in an elaborate security operation that saw him transported to a secret military flight via an airport catering container. The ruse, intended to protect the president from a credible assassination threat linked to Iran, occurred while the White House publicly maintained that Trump was traveling aboard the official Air Force One.
According to reports from the Washington Post and the New York Times, the operation unfolded after Trump was seen by cameras boarding the older, baby blue Air Force One jumbo jet. Shortly thereafter, he was secretly shuttled to a smaller aircraft using a catering truck typically reserved for loading food and supplies. This deception was designed to conceal his true location from journalists and several members of the White House staff.
The administration had previously stated that Trump departed Turkey on July 8 aboard the older plane, a decision the president had publicly confirmed on Truth Social to allow service members at RAF Mildenhall in Britain to tour the newer Boeing 747-8, which was gifted by Qatar. Journalists traveling on the older plane were instructed to keep their window shades closed during the flight. When questioned about the request, Trump remarked that they were likely on a “dangerous flight,” adding, “But if I go, you go. Right?”
The C-32A carrying the president arrived in Britain at approximately 10:20 p.m. local time, minutes before the older Air Force One and the media contingent landed. Witnesses reported that Trump eventually exited the older plane at 10:56 p.m., appearing at the upper left-side door to descend the stairs, where he offered a peace sign to the press before greeting service members and moving toward the Qatari-donated jet.
White House communications director Steve Cheung defended the administration's security measures, stating that the Qatari-donated aircraft is equipped with advanced protocols to ensure the safety of the president and his staff. “As the president has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats,” Cheung stated. The maneuver mirrors a similar 2000 operation where Bill Clinton used an unmarked executive jet to fly into Pakistan while his formal Air Force One served as a decoy.
The C-32A carrying Trump flew to Britain, arriving at about 10.20pm local time with the older Air Force One and media arriving minutes later, the Post reported.
Trump’s traveling press pool reported he climbed down the stairs of the older Air Force One at 10.56pm local time. He gave press a peace sign but didn’t walk over to talk to them. He then spent some time greeting service members before walking to the new, Qatar-donated plane.
