[REVEALED] Trump secretly switched planes in Turkey over Iranian assassination threat

US President Donald Trump secretly switched aircraft while departing Turkey last month in an elaborate security operation reportedly designed to protect him from a potential Iranian assassination attempt.

According to reports by The Washington Post and The New York Times, Trump initially boarded Air Force One in Ankara after attending a NATO summit on July 8. He was then covertly transferred to a smaller US military aircraft using an airport catering truck.

The operation was reportedly triggered by intelligence indicating a specific threat against Trump or his aircraft amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Trump had travelled to Ankara aboard a newly renovated Boeing 747-8 aircraft donated by Qatar. However, shortly before his departure, he announced that he would return to the United States aboard an older Air Force One, saying it was “for old time’s sake.”

After cameras recorded Trump boarding the older presidential aircraft, a catering truck positioned near the plane was used to secretly move him to a smaller Air Force C-32A, according to reports.

The journalists and some White House officials travelling aboard the older Air Force One were reportedly unaware that Trump was no longer on the aircraft. The plane consequently served as a decoy while Trump travelled separately to Britain for a refuelling stop.

The deception also involved instructing journalists aboard Air Force One to keep their window shades closed during the flight. Trump later joked with reporters about the unusual security measure, saying they were “probably on a dangerous flight.”

The reported operation came amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. Trump had earlier said during the NATO summit that he was Iran’s “number one target,” while US intelligence agencies had reportedly identified a specific threat against the president or his aircraft.

The episode has also renewed questions about the security of the Qatar-donated aircraft. The White House has maintained that the new presidential jet is safe, although Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said it would undergo additional upgrades and enhancements later in the year.

The incident highlights the extent of the security precautions surrounding presidential travel as Washington’s confrontation with Tehran continues.