Trump used elaborate ruse to leave Turkey after NATO summit because of Iran threat, report says
President Donald Trump reportedly used a decoy aircraft to depart a NATO summit in Turkey following intelligence regarding an Iranian assassination threat. While the public and press believed he was on Air Force One, he was secretly moved to a smaller military jet via a catering truck.
Why it matters
This highlights the extreme security measures required for high-level political figures and the potential for state-sponsored threats against world leaders.
As Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth watches at left, U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he switches planes at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England, on his way back to Washington from the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on July 8. Alex Brandon/The Associated Press
U.S. President Donald Trump secretly flew out of last month’s NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on an alternate military aircraft while the White House made it appear that the Republican President was flying on Air Force One, according to a report published by The Washington Post on Monday.
The Post said the operation was prompted by an Iranian assassination threat against Trump. The ruse was carried out as journalists and some White House staff members were led to believe they were on the same plane as the President as he began his journey back to Washington from the annual gathering of NATO country leaders.
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