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Before Trump, Clinton took a decoy plane for safety. I was there
USA Today • • world
Key Points:
- Donald Trump secretly flew on a decoy military plane from Turkey in July due to security threats from Iran, while the White House publicly stated he was on Air Force One.
- This tactic of using decoy planes for presidential safety is not new; in 2000, President Bill Clinton used a similar strategy when flying from India to Pakistan.
- Clinton's unmarked plane switch was revealed upon his arrival in Pakistan, where he made a highly secured six-hour visit.
- White House officials traditionally keep a small pool of journalists informed about the president's whereabouts during trips to ensure transparency and safety, a practice the author personally experienced during Clinton’s trip.
- The use of decoy planes highlights the balance between presidential security and the media’s role in independently verifying the president’s location and well-being during sensitive situations.
