Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Aug 11: US President Donald Trump was secretly flown from Turkey on a military aircraft last month after an alleged Iranian assassination threat, despite the White House publicly stating that he was travelling aboard Air Force One, The Washington Post reported.
Trump had travelled to Ankara aboard the newly renovated Boeing 747-8 jet donated by Qatar for the NATO summit. However, he unexpectedly departed Turkey aboard an older Air Force One, raising questions over the security of the new aircraft.
The NATO trip marked the new plane’s first international journey. Its rapid renovation had already drawn scrutiny over its cost and security, while the visit took place amid escalating hostilities with Iran, which shares a border with Turkey.
Before leaving Ankara, Trump said on Truth Social that he would use the older baby-blue Air Force One “for old time’s sake” to travel to RAF Mildenhall in Britain. The new aircraft was also scheduled to stop at the base so US service members stationed there could tour it.
After Trump boarded the older Air Force One in front of cameras in Ankara, he was secretly transported in an airport catering truck to a smaller US Air Force C-32A aircraft, The Washington Post reported, citing a US official familiar with the operation and other material it reviewed.
The report said the deception operation was triggered by a credible threat to Trump. A similar operation was carried out in 2000, when then-President Bill Clinton used an unmarked executive jet to enter Pakistan while his official Air Force One served as a decoy.
On this occasion, journalists who believed they were travelling with Trump aboard the older Air Force One were reportedly instructed to keep the window shades in the press cabin closed. The Post said some White House staff members also believed the president was on board.
When reporters later asked Trump why they had been told to keep the shades closed, he said they were “probably on a dangerous flight”.
“But if I go, you go. Right?” Trump added.
The C-32A carrying Trump flew to Britain and arrived at around 10:20 pm. The older Air Force One, carrying the media, arrived minutes later, according to the report. It was not immediately clear how Trump was transferred from the C-32A back to the older Air Force One.
Trump’s travelling press pool reported that he descended the stairs of the older Air Force One at 10:56 pm local time. He gave reporters a peace sign but did not stop to speak with them. He later greeted US service members before walking towards the new Qatar-donated aircraft.
Asked about the revelation that Trump had secretly travelled on a third aircraft, White House Communications Director Steve Cheung said the Qatar-donated jet had been equipped with high-level security protocols to protect 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 said.
The White House provided the same statement to The Washington Post.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.