Trump didn't leave Turkey on Air Force One. He flew in a secret plane instead
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump secretly left the NATO summit in Ankara on a smaller military plane, an Air Force C-32A, while White House staff and journalists were misled to believe he was on the older-model Air Force One, according to The Washington Post.
- The covert operation was reportedly prompted by an Iranian assassination threat against Trump amid heightened tensions following U.S. military strikes in Iran.
- Trump initially flew to the summit on a new, Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet but switched to the older plane for part of the return trip; the new jet was not used due to security concerns and is slated for additional upgrades.
- The secretive transfer involved Trump and aides boarding an airport catering truck to move between aircraft out of public view, with reporters instructed to close window shades during takeoff to maintain the ruse.
- Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal called for a congressional investigation into the incident, describing it as "unprecedented" and "downright scary," while the White House cited ongoing threats and the use of all available security measures.