-
Trump confirms covert security move: US President says Secret Service and military ordered him onto a different aircraft after intelligence pointed to a possible Iranian missile threat following the NATO summit in Turkey.
-
Missile threat sparked elaborate deception: Reports say Trump was quietly moved from Air Force One to a C-32A military aircraft while journalists, cabinet officials and White House staff unknowingly remained aboard the decoy presidential jet.
-
Media left in the dark: Members of the travelling press corps were instructed to keep window shades shut and were reportedly unaware the president had already left the aircraft, raising fresh concerns about journalists’ safety.
-
Questions mount over White House security decisions: Press freedom advocates are demanding answers over whether reporters and senior officials were unnecessarily exposed to danger during one of the most secretive presidential security operations in recent years.
August 12, (THEWILL) — United States President Donald Trump has confirmed that he was secretly transferred to another aircraft after departing Turkey last month following intelligence reports of a possible Iranian security threat, ending weeks of speculation over one of the most elaborate presidential security operations in recent history.
Speaking on Tuesday, Trump said the decision to move him from the presidential aircraft was made entirely by the United States Secret Service and military officials responsible for his protection.
“I guess there was a threat out there. I didn’t really ask too much about it. I get a lot of threats,” Trump said, adding that he routinely faces security threats and has previously described himself as Iran’s “number one target”.
His confirmation follows reports that he initially boarded Air Force One at Ankara Esenboğa Airport on July 8 after attending the NATO summit before being quietly transferred to a smaller US Air Force C-32A aircraft in a carefully orchestrated deception designed to shield him from any potential attack.
THEWILL earlier reported that American intelligence agencies had detected what they described as a credible Iranian threat involving a possible missile attack targeting the presidential aircraft.
The New York Times further reported that intelligence officers received information about an individual near the NATO summit allegedly carrying a shoulder-fired missile, prompting an immediate review of the President’s travel arrangements.
Trump said he was not fully briefed on the intelligence behind the operation and simply complied with instructions from security officials.
READ ALSO: Assassination Threat: Trump Secretly Switched Aircraft Mid-Journey Amid Iran Security Scare – Report
Reports indicate that after television cameras captured Trump boarding Air Force One, he was discreetly moved through a catering truck positioned alongside the aircraft before being transported to a waiting C-32A military aircraft—a modified Boeing 757 frequently used by senior US government officials.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly boarded the military aircraft separately, while journalists travelling with the president and several senior administration officials remained aboard the larger presidential aircraft, unaware that Trump had already departed.
To preserve the deception, the aircraft carrying the travelling press reportedly continued using the Air Force One call sign, while Trump’s C-32A flew under the military call sign “Reach 18.”
Journalists aboard the presidential aircraft were instructed to keep their window shades closed throughout the flight, an unusual security measure that immediately raised suspicions among members of the White House press pool.
The White House Correspondents’ Association said one of its pool producers questioned the instruction, while a photographer who briefly opened a window shade was reportedly ordered to close it without explanation.
Several top administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, were among those who reportedly remained aboard the decoy aircraft.
READ ALSO: Make a Deal or Surrender – Trump Raises Stakes With Iran
Trump later reunited with the older Air Force One after arriving in the United Kingdom before eventually transferring to the newer Boeing 747-8 aircraft for the final leg of his journey back to Washington.
The disclosure has sparked criticism from press freedom advocates, who questioned whether journalists accompanying the President were unnecessarily exposed to danger without being informed of the potential risks.
Jose Zamora, Regional Director for the Americas at the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), said the administration had a responsibility to ensure that members of the media were not unknowingly placed in harm’s way.
He argued that when authorities become aware of credible threats, journalists covering the President should receive sufficient information to make informed decisions about their own safety rather than being left aboard what effectively became a decoy aircraft.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
