Trump’s covert Turkey exit: How a catering truck helped US Prez swap planes amid Iran threat

US President Donald Trump was secretly transferred from Air Force One to a smaller military aircraft and flown out of Turkey last month amid what US officials considered a credible Iranian assassination threat, The Washington Post reported.

The covert operation took place on July 8, following a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) summit in Ankara, and involved an elaborate deception in which the older Air Force One aircraft carrying journalists and some White House staff served as a decoy.

According to the report, Trump was secretly moved to an Air Force C-32A using an airport catering truck, keeping his actual location hidden from the public and even some senior officials.

Trump publicly boards Air Force One

Trump had arrived in Turkey aboard a newer Boeing 747-8 gifted to the United States by Qatar.

For his departure from Ankara, however, he publicly boarded the older Boeing 747 that had previously served as Air Force One.

The move was witnessed by television cameras and journalists, who believed the president would travel to the UK aboard the aircraft.

According to the Post, members of the White House press pool were later instructed to keep the aircraft’s window shades closed.

Secret catering truck transfer

Minutes after Trump boarded the older 747, he was secretly moved to a nearby Air Force C-32A, a modified Boeing 757 used to transport senior US officials.

The transfer was carried out using an airport catering truck whose elevated container could reach the aircraft.

The truck moved between the two aircraft, allowing Trump to leave the 747 without being seen by reporters on the tarmac.

The older Air Force One then departed with journalists and some White House staff still aboard.

The US official who spoke to the Post described the aircraft as a “decoy” because those aboard believed Trump was travelling with them.

Iranian threat prompted operation

The secret transfer was reportedly organised after US intelligence identified what officials considered a credible threat to Trump’s life from Iran.

The threat reportedly included concerns about a possible surface-to-air missile attack targeting the president’s aircraft.

The operation took place amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran and shortly after US forces had resumed military strikes against Iran.

The use of a separate aircraft allowed security officials to conceal Trump’s actual route while maintaining the appearance that he was travelling aboard the older Air Force One.

White House account differs

The White House had publicly maintained that Trump left Turkey aboard the older Air Force One.

Trump had also said he chose the aircraft over the newer Qatari jet.

The latest report, however, indicates that Trump only staged his departure aboard the older plane before secretly switching aircraft.

The deception meant that journalists travelling with the presidential delegation were unaware that Trump was no longer on their aircraft.

White House defends security measures

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung did not directly address the reported aircraft switch but defended the security arrangements surrounding Trump’s travel.

“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 said.

“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 Pentagon referred questions about the operation to the White House, while the Secret Service did not respond to requests for comment, according to the Post.

Rare presidential deception

US presidents have previously used alternative aircraft and undisclosed travel arrangements for security reasons.

However, the reported operation was unusual because journalists and some White House staff were deliberately left aboard a decoy aircraft while Trump travelled separately.

The operation kept Trump’s actual location concealed for several hours and highlights the heightened security measures surrounding his travel amid escalating tensions with Iran.