A credible and imminent threat of a shoulder-fired missile targeting the presidential aircraft, Air Force One, led the Secret Service to secretly move then-President Donald Trump to a smaller government jet during his July trip to Turkey. The clandestine operation aimed to protect the president during his departure from Ankara following a NATO summit, amid heightened regional tensions.
Secret Service Devises Covert Egress Plan
The intelligence regarding the potential missile threat emerged on the final day of Trump’s visit to Turkey. According to a person briefed on the matter, the Secret Service assessed the danger as significant and immediate, necessitating an unusual and covert departure strategy. Officials had limited time to formulate the plan, which was devised at the last minute.
The source indicated that the origin of the intelligence could not be disclosed but emphasized the urgency of the situation. To execute the switch, Trump and a small contingent of aides were reportedly moved using a catering truck. This allowed them to discreetly board a less conspicuous C-32A jet, a smaller government aircraft, for their flight out of Turkey on July 8. Meanwhile, the larger, distinctive blue-and-white Air Force One departed separately, carrying senior administration officials, White House staff, and the press corps.
President’s Account of the Incident
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Donald Trump confirmed that he had switched planes at the direction of the Secret Service, whose primary responsibility is ensuring presidential security. He stated that the flight from Ankara to a refueling stop in Britain proceeded without any issues. Trump suggested that the larger Air Force One might have been a more likely target for adversaries, implying the smaller jet offered a degree of anonymity.
“I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk,” Trump told reporters, though he did not provide specific evidence to support this assertion. “…it was at greater risk because that would be the plane I think that they would be more likely to go for.”
Understanding the Missile Threat
The nature of the potential threat may have involved advanced heat-seeking missiles, according to Douglas Birkey, executive director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. These types of missiles are designed to lock onto the heat emitted by aircraft engines. Birkey explained that such weapons pose a growing concern for military planners because they are significantly harder to detect than traditional radar-guided munitions. He noted that these heat-seeking missiles “can kind of come out of nowhere” as they do not emit detectable radio signals, making them particularly challenging to counter.
Precedent for Secret Travel and Unique Circumstances
While US presidents have occasionally traveled under conditions of secrecy, particularly when visiting active war zones or regions deemed high-risk, these operations typically involved prior notification for the traveling press. However, the source familiar with the Turkey incident stressed that the Secret Service did not have the luxury of extensive planning time in this instance.
“They were scrambling to head off what they thought was a credible, imminent threat,” the source stated, highlighting the reactive nature of the security response.
Reporting and Security Concerns
Details of this covert operation were first reported by The Washington Post, more than a month after the event occurred. The New York Times subsequently reported that US officials had expressed alarm upon learning that individuals associated with Iran were aware of Trump’s specific location in Ankara, including the hotel floor he occupied.
Onboard the decoy Air Force One were several key figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was reportedly briefed on the maneuver. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, and other aides, along with the standard 13-person press pool, were also on the larger aircraft. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, Executive Assistant Natalie Harp, and Director of Oval Office Operations Walt Nauta were among those who accompanied Trump in the catering truck, according to the source.
Questions Regarding Risk and Justification
The operation has raised questions among some media commentators and lawmakers regarding whether the deception placed the aides and journalists on the decoy Air Force One at undue risk. The source maintained that the decision to maintain the secrecy of the ruse was based on the assessment that it was in President Trump’s best interest, particularly given the escalating hostilities with Iran, which shares a border with Turkey. Turkish officials have not yet issued a public statement regarding the alleged threat.
