President Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, that he secretly switched planes while flying out of Turkey last month due to a credible threat to his life. The Washington Post revealed that Trump was smuggled off Air Force One onto a different aircraft via a catering truck before the original plane departed, which still carried journalists and top aides who remained at apparent risk of an Iranian missile strike.

Trump stated, "They wanted me to go in a different flight, a different plane – equal safety, but they wanted me to do it, so I do it. I do what they say." He also remarked, "I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk," and acknowledged, "I guess there was a threat out there. I didn't really ask too much about it."

The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel had briefed the US about a possible shoulder-to-air missile threat targeting Air Force One. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was among senior officials who remained on the original plane.

The secret operation took place on July 8, 2026, while Air Force One was on the ground in Turkey during the NATO summit. Some traveling journalists expressed anger over being unwitting decoys and criticized the White House for lack of communication. Notably, pool media on board noted an unusual Secret Service order to lower window shades during takeoff.

Trump's trip to the NATO summit had already drawn attention after he arrived on a luxury Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar and retrofitted to carry the US president.

In related context, oil prices rose amid fading hopes for a deal on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage in the Middle East.

For comparison, Joe Biden's 2023 visit to Ukraine was conducted under strict secrecy but included reporter and photographer accompaniment.

Sources