U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that he secretly switched aircraft after leaving last month’s NATO summit in Türkiye following what U.S. officials described as a credible threat linked to Iran. Trump said the decision was made solely on the advice of the U.S. Secret Service and military officials, who believed changing aircraft would reduce the security risk during his departure.
According to U.S. officials, Trump publicly boarded Air Force One in front of cameras before quietly exiting the aircraft through a concealed doorway. He was then transported across the airport in a catering truck and boarded a smaller military aircraft, while Air Force One departed with White House aides, security personnel, and members of the press on board, serving as a decoy to conceal the president’s actual movements.
Trump told reporters that he did not question the decision, saying he trusted the Secret Service and military to determine the safest course of action. He added that he receives frequent threats and suggested the smaller aircraft he ultimately used “may actually have been at greater risk” because potential attackers could have assumed he was aboard that flight.
The covert operation remained secret for several weeks before being revealed in media reports. Officials said intelligence indicated a possible missile or assassination threat during Trump’s departure from Türkiye, prompting security agencies to quickly revise the travel plan. The White House has declined to disclose further details, citing national security concerns.
The revelation has sparked political debate in Washington. Critics questioned the decision to leave journalists and White House staff aboard the decoy aircraft without informing them of the security risk, arguing that it may have unnecessarily exposed them to potential danger. Supporters, however, said protecting the president’s life required extraordinary security measures and that such deception is sometimes used during high-risk missions.
Security experts noted that while U.S. presidents have previously travelled secretly to conflict zones, the elaborate aircraft switch and use of a decoy plane represent one of the most unusual presidential security operations in recent years. The incident highlights the heightened security environment surrounding the U.S. president amid ongoing tensions with Iran and continuing concerns over potential threats against senior American officials.