US President Donald Trump reportedly made a secret change to his travel plans while leaving Turkey last month after an Iranian threat raised security concerns, The Washington Post reported. Trump had traveled to Ankara for the NATO summit aboard a newly renovated Boeing 747-8. Qatar had donated the aircraft to the United States, and it was being used for Trump’s presidential travel.
Trump Appeared To Board Air Force One In Ankara
According to The Washington Post, Trump first boarded the older Air Force One aircraft in Ankara in front of cameras. The public appearance suggested that he would leave Turkey aboard the larger presidential plane. However, his actual travel arrangements were reportedly different. A US official familiar with the operation and another person familiar with Trump’s travel told the newspaper that Trump was secretly transferred from the larger aircraft to a smaller US military plane. The operation was reportedly carried out discreetly to prevent details of his movements from becoming known.
Trump Secretly Transferred To C-32A Aircraft
Trump was reportedly moved into an airport catering truck after initially boarding the older Air Force One. The truck then transported him across the airport to a smaller C-32A aircraft. The move allowed the president to leave Turkey without drawing attention to the change in aircraft. The C-32A is a US military aircraft commonly used to transport senior government officials.
Trump Flew From Turkey To Britain On Smaller Plane
The C-32A later flew Trump from Turkey to Britain. The aircraft arrived at around 10:20 pm. The older Air Force One arrived only minutes later. That aircraft was carrying journalists and other members of Trump's travel team.
The timing of the two flights reportedly helped create the impression that Trump had remained aboard the larger aircraft throughout the journey. The Washington Post said it was unclear how Trump was transferred back to the larger aircraft after reaching Britain.
Iran Threat Reportedly Changed Trump Travel Plans
The secret aircraft switch was reportedly prompted by an Iranian threat against Trump. The reported operation highlights the security measures that can be taken when intelligence officials identify potential threats to the US president.
Instead of following the publicly visible travel plan, security officials reportedly used a smaller military aircraft and a concealed transfer to reduce information about Trump's actual movements.
White House Defends Security Measures For Trump
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended the security arrangements surrounding the new presidential aircraft. “The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff."
Cheung also pointed to threats facing the president and said the administration was using available security measures to protect him. “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." The White House had previously issued the same statement when questions were raised about the security of the Qatar-donated aircraft.
Qatar Donated New Air Force One To US
The Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar made its first flight with Trump on July 1. Trump used the aircraft when he travelled to North Dakota. Only days later, he used the plane for his trip to Turkey to attend the NATO summit. The aircraft was donated after Trump had complained about the condition of the two ageing Boeing 747s that had served as Air Force One since 1990.
Trump Travel Security Comes Under Focus
The reported secret flight from Turkey highlights the extensive security measures surrounding presidential travel. Although Trump appeared to board Air Force One in front of cameras, his actual departure reportedly took place aboard a smaller military aircraft. The operation also shows how presidential travel plans can be changed without public notice when US officials face potential security threats.