President Donald Trump reportedly departed Turkey on a secret military flight last month, hidden in an airport catering container, after an Iranian assassination threat, according to US media reports.
Key facts
- Trump was reportedly moved from Air Force One to a smaller military plane using an airport catering truck.
- The operation occurred as Trump left a Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey, last month.
- It was prompted by an Iranian assassination threat, according to reports.
- The Washington Post and New York Times first reported the ruse, with the BBC and Al Jazeera also covering it.
- The switch was reportedly unknown to the press pool and some White House staff.
Donald Trump departed on a secret military flight from Turkey to Britain last month when the White House said he was flying aboard Air Force One, according to reporting from the Washington Post and the New York Times cited by the Guardian. The move was described as an extraordinary ruse prompted by an Iranian assassination threat.
According to the Post, the operation took place while Trump was in Ankara for a Nato summit with world leaders. The president reportedly boarded the old Air Force One jumbo jet in view of television cameras before being secretly shuttled minutes later to a smaller plane.
The switch was carried out using an airport catering truck typically used to load meals and other supplies before flights, a US official told the Post. Trump was reportedly hidden inside a catering container during the transfer.
Al Jazeera reported that Trump used the catering cart to switch planes unbeknownst to the press pool and some White House staff, underscoring the secrecy of the operation.
The BBC reported that the US president was moved from the old Air Force One to a military plane as he left the Nato summit in Turkey last month, citing US media.
The reports do not specify further details about the nature of the Iranian threat or the exact date of the flight, beyond that it occurred in July.
Why it matters
The reported ruse highlights the extraordinary security measures taken to protect a sitting US president amid a claimed foreign assassination threat. It also raises questions about transparency, given that the press pool and some White House staff were reportedly kept in the dark.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Trump reportedly hide in a catering container?
According to the Washington Post and New York Times, the move was prompted by an Iranian assassination threat, and was used to secretly transfer him from Air Force One to a smaller military plane.
Where and when did this happen?
Reports say it occurred last month, in July, as Trump left a Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey, flying from Turkey to Britain.
Who knew about the secret plane swap?
Al Jazeera reported that the switch was carried out unbeknownst to the press pool and some White House staff.