US President Donald Trump secretly boarded a third aircraft during his departure from Turkey last month after an Iranian assassination threat prompted a covert security operation, according to The Washington Post.
Trump had arrived in Ankara aboard the newly renovated Boeing 747 donated by Qatar for the NATO summit, but unexpectedly departed Turkey aboard an older Air Force One, raising questions about the security of the new presidential aircraft.
The Post reported on Aug 10 that Trump was secretly transferred from the older Air Force One to a smaller Air Force C-32A after boarding the older aircraft in front of television cameras.
The operation was reportedly triggered by a credible threat against Trump, with the president moved to the smaller aircraft using an airport catering truck.
The deception was designed to give the impression that Trump remained aboard the older Air Force One, which was effectively used as a decoy.
The operation echoed a similar security measure in 2000, when then-president Bill Clinton used an unmarked executive aircraft to enter Pakistan while his official Air Force One served as a decoy.
Before leaving Ankara, Trump had said on Truth Social that he would take the older, baby-blue Air Force One “for old time’s sake” to RAF Mildenhall in Britain, while the Qatar-donated aircraft would also stop there to allow US service members to tour it.
Journalists travelling on the older Air Force One were reportedly instructed to keep the window shades in the press cabin closed.
The Post said some White House staff also believed Trump was aboard the aircraft.
When reporters later asked why they had been required to keep the shades closed, Trump said they were “probably on a dangerous flight”.
“But if I go, you go. Right?” he added.
The C-32A carrying Trump arrived in Britain at about 10.20pm local time, with the older Air Force One and members of the media arriving several minutes later.
It remained unclear how Trump was transferred back to the older Air Force One. His travelling press pool reported that he eventually emerged from the stairs of the aircraft at about 10.56pm.
Trump briefly gave reporters a peace sign before greeting US service members and proceeding towards the Qatar-donated aircraft.
The White House did not directly comment on the secret flight but provided a statement from communications director Steve Cheung, who said the new aircraft had been equipped with high-level security protocols to protect the president and his staff.
“As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats,” Cheung said.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Qatar-donated aircraft, featuring a red, white, dark blue and gold livery selected by Trump, is a Boeing 747 gifted to the United States by Qatar in 2025 and subsequently refitted by defence contractor L3Harris Technologies.
The aircraft was intended as an interim presidential jet while Boeing continues work on the long-delayed next-generation Air Force One aircraft. - August 11, 2026
