US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he was secretly moved to a different aircraft after attending the NATO Summit in Turkey following what officials described as a credible Iranian assassination threat.

Trump said he followed instructions from the Secret Service and the US military without seeking details about the specific threat. Reports said he was moved to a smaller military aircraft while the aircraft he had arrived in was used as a decoy to conceal his actual location.

Trump Confirms Secret Aircraft Switch

Trump was speaking to reporters after The Washington Post reported that he had been secretly flown out of Turkey aboard a smaller US military aircraft following the NATO summit.

According to the report, the familiar Air Force One aircraft was used as a decoy, while Trump was transferred to another aircraft. The transfer was reportedly carried out covertly, with the President transported across the airport in a catering truck.

Trump said he believed the alternate aircraft may actually have been more vulnerable to a potential attack.

“I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk,” Trump said, adding, “I think it was at greater risk because that would be the plane I think that they would be more likely to go for.”

Asked about the reason for the aircraft change, Trump said he had not asked for details about the intelligence behind the security decision.

“I go by Secret Service and the military. They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane… I do what they say… I guess there was a threat out there. I didn’t really ask too much about it. I get a lot of threats,” he said.

Air Force One Reportedly Used As Decoy

Trump’s flight switch took place after his participation in the NATO summit in Turkey in July. He had travelled to the country aboard a Boeing 747-8 aircraft donated by Qatar.

Concerns had reportedly been raised about the defensive capabilities of the aircraft compared with the older Air Force One jets traditionally used by the US President.

According to reports, US officials received intelligence indicating a possible Iranian threat targeting Trump or his aircraft. The Secret Service subsequently decided that Trump should not make the return journey aboard the aircraft on which he had arrived.

Trump was reportedly transferred to a smaller Air Force C-32A military aircraft. The operation was conducted covertly, with the President travelling in an airport catering vehicle to avoid drawing attention to the transfer.

The original aircraft was then used as a decoy. Journalists and some White House personnel reportedly remained aboard it, believing Trump was travelling with them, while the President had already departed on the alternate aircraft.

The operation was intended to prevent potential attackers from determining which aircraft Trump was actually travelling on.

Iranian Threat Prompted Security Measures

The reported threat emerged amid the ongoing US-Iran war and heightened concerns about potential Iranian retaliation against senior US officials.

US and Israeli intelligence agencies had reportedly warned of possible threats against Trump, including the possibility of an attack targeting his aircraft.

The Secret Service has not publicly disclosed the precise intelligence that led to the aircraft switch. However, reports described the threat as serious enough to prompt the extraordinary security measures.

No attack on Trump’s aircraft was reported.

The operation has nevertheless raised questions about the decision to keep journalists and some White House personnel aboard the decoy aircraft unaware of the underlying security concern. Critics have argued that although the arrangement was intended to protect the President, those remaining on the aircraft were potentially exposed without being informed of the intelligence behind the change.

Trump Downplays Threats Against Him

Trump sought to play down concerns over his personal safety, saying threats against a US President were not unusual.

“I have a lot of threats that you don’t know about. Any consequential President has a lot of threats. Non-consequential Presidents don’t get threatened, and I think that I’m maybe the most consequential President,” he said.

He also said he was not particularly concerned about the risks associated with the reported threat.

“I don’t worry about anything, to be honest. Whatever it is, you know my attitude? Whatever,” Trump said.

The President’s comments indicate that he relied on the Secret Service and military officials to determine the safest arrangements for his travel rather than seeking detailed information about the reported Iranian threat.

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