Trump Moved Between Aircraft in Catering Truck During Secret Turkey Departure, Reports Say
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WASHINGTON, August 11 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — U.S. President Donald Trump was transported in an airport catering truck from an older Air Force One to an Air Force C-32A before taking a secret military flight from Turkey to Britain last month, the Washington Post reported, citing unnamed sources.
The newspaper said a credible Iranian assassination threat prompted the deception operation. The New York Times published a similar account, citing unnamed U.S. officials.
The White House had said at the time that Trump would fly aboard Air Force One from Turkey, where he attended a NATO summit, to Britain. Trump had traveled to Ankara on a newly renovated jet donated by Qatar but unexpectedly announced that he would depart on an older Air Force One.
Before leaving Ankara, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he would use the older baby-blue aircraft “for old time’s sake” for the flight to RAF Mildenhall. He said the newer plane would stop at the same base so U.S. service members stationed there could tour it.
Trump boarded the older Air Force One in front of cameras before secretly leaving the aircraft through the catering truck and transferring to the smaller C-32A, the Post reported, citing a U.S. official familiar with the operation and corroborating material reviewed by the newspaper.
The older Air Force One then departed with journalists and some White House staff who believed Trump remained aboard, according to the report. Journalists were instructed to keep the window shades in the press cabin closed.
Asked later why the shades had to remain shut, Trump said those aboard were “probably on a dangerous flight.”
“But if I go, you go. Right?” Trump added.
The C-32A carrying Trump arrived in Britain at around 10:20 p.m., followed minutes later by the older Air Force One and the journalists, the Post reported. The newspaper said it was unclear how Trump was transferred from the C-32A back to the presidential aircraft.
Trump’s traveling press pool reported that he descended the stairs of the older Air Force One at 10:56 p.m. He gave journalists a peace sign, greeted U.S. service members and later walked to the Qatar-donated aircraft.
Asked about the reported secret flight aboard a third plane, the White House issued a statement from Communications Director Steve Cheung saying the Qatar-donated jet had been equipped with high-level security protocols for 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 Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The new aircraft is a Boeing 747 donated to the United States by Qatar last year and refitted by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies. Featuring red, white, dark blue and gold livery selected by Trump, it is intended to serve as a temporary replacement while Boeing works to deliver the delayed next-generation Air Force One aircraft.
The Washington Post also cited a similar operation from 2000, when President Bill Clinton used an unmarked executive jet to enter Pakistan while his official Air Force One served as a decoy.
