U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he secretly switched to an alternative aircraft in Turkey last month on the instructions of the U.S. Secret Service, but added that the plane he ultimately traveled on was more vulnerable to attack than Air Force One.
U.S. media reported that following the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump was moved from Air Force One to a military aircraft aboard a catering truck in an unusual deception operation prompted by an Iranian threat to assassinate him.
The White House did not disclose the switch, and the operation remained secret until The Washington Post first reported it on Monday. Some media commentators questioned whether the operation had put Trump’s aides and journalists traveling with him at risk aboard the aircraft that was supposedly carrying the president.
“I actually think the plane I was on was at greater risk… because I think that’s the plane they probably would have targeted,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday.
A day after satirical images circulated on social media depicting Trump hiding inside a catering truck, the president — who is highly conscious of his public image and often promotes digitally altered images portraying himself as a bold and fearless leader — said he had simply followed instructions from the Secret Service, the agency responsible for protecting the president.
“It’s entirely up to the Secret Service. I just follow what they want to do… So I follow the directions of the Secret Service and the military,” Trump said.
“I think there was some kind of threat. I didn’t ask too many questions about it. I get a lot of threats,” he added.
The White House had said at the time that the president would travel aboard Air Force One from Turkey to Britain. But moments after Trump boarded the aircraft, he secretly left it through a catering truck and boarded another plane bound for Britain, The Washington Post reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources.
While traveling to Ankara for the NATO summit, Trump flew aboard the modified aircraft provided by Qatar, but it was unexpectedly announced that he would use an older presidential aircraft when departing the country. The move raised questions about the safety of the new aircraft.
The NATO summit trip was the first international flight for the new aircraft, whose rapid refurbishment had raised questions about its cost and security. The flight took place as fighting with Iran, which borders Turkey, was intensifying.
The new aircraft, which Trump chose to feature red, white, dark blue and gold colors, is a Boeing 747 gifted to the United States by Qatar last year and refurbished by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies. It was intended to serve as a temporary replacement while Boeing faces difficulties delivering two next-generation Air Force One aircraft, whose delivery has been significantly delayed.
Reuters
