U.S. President Donald Trump secretly flew out of last month’s NATO summit in Ankara, Turkiye, on an alternate army plane whereas the White Home made it seem that the Republican president was flying on Air Drive One, in response to a report printed by The Washington Submit on Monday (August 10, 2026).
The Submit mentioned an Iranian assassination menace towards Mr. Trump prompted the operation. The ruse was carried out as journalists and a few White Home workers members have been led to consider they have been on the identical airplane because the President as he started his journey again to Washington from the annual gathering of NATO nation leaders.
The Submit cited materials reviewed by the newspaper, a U.S. official aware of the operation and one other particular person with data of the President’s journey. The Related Press has not independently confirmed the report.
Flying in on Qatari-gifted jet
Mr. Trump had flown to the summit in a brand new Qatari-gifted and retrofitted crimson, white and navy blue jet. However forward of departing Turkiye, he mentioned he would fly partway house on an older-model child blue Air Drive One airplane as an alternative.
The President on the time mentioned the brand new luxurious jet was being flown out forward of his departure from Ankara to provide some U.S. troops based mostly in japanese England an opportunity to take a look at the brand new Air Drive One.
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In Ankara, Mr. Trump boarded the outdated Air Drive One jumbo jet in view of tv cameras forward of the airplane flying to Royal Air Drive Mildenhall in the UK.
Nonetheless, in response to the Submit report, after boarding the legacy Air Drive One jet, he was secretly shuttled minutes later to a smaller airplane — an Air Drive C-32A — through an airport catering truck sometimes used to load meals and different provides. Mr. Trump flew to Mildenhall on that smaller jet.
White Home mum about ruse
The White Home didn’t reply on to questions concerning the Submit report of the key operation to whisk Mr. Trump overseas on a 3rd plane, or the reported elaborate ruse to make it seem he was on the child blue Air Drive One jet flying to Mildenhall.
“Because the President has mentioned lately, there are various enemies of America who’ve their sights on him, and we use each instrument at our disposal to handle these threats,” White Home communications director Steven Cheung mentioned in a press release.
The U.S. Secret Service declined to remark. The Air Drive, which maintains the fleet of government journey plane, referred inquiries to the White Home.
Threats to Trump
Whereas Mr. Trump was in Turkiye, the U.S. army performed a collection of huge strikes in Iran in retaliation for its assaults on service provider transport within the area.
The New York Instances and CBS Information reported final month that intelligence officers had raised considerations a few potential assault on the U.S. President or his jet, triggering further precautions and the choice to not use the newly inaugurated plane gifted to Mr. Trump by Qatar for the primary leg of Mr. Trump’s journey house from Ankara.
The swap had spurred questions concerning the safety of the Qatar-provided plane, and Mr. Trump mentioned final month after the journey that it might endure further upgrades.
Mr. Cheung on Monday maintained that the brand new, Qatari-gifted airplane was “a state-of-the-art plane that has been fitted with high-level safety protocols that guarantee the security of the President and his workers.”
‘Uncommon prevalence’
The brand new Submit report on clandestinely placing Mr. Trump on a 3rd plane and quietly whisking him overseas provides a recent layer to only how critically involved U.S. safety officers have been concerning the menace towards Mr. Trump throughout the ongoing battle with Iran.
Paul Eckloff, a former particular agent with the Secret Service, mentioned such an uncommon transfer may both mirror actionable intelligence or an abundance of warning given volatility within the area with the wars in Iran and Ukraine.
“I might not say unprecedented, however it’s an uncommon prevalence,” Mr. Eckloff instructed The Related Press.
The Submit reported that to exit that airplane with out being seen by these uninvolved within the operation, Mr. Trump and a number of other aides stepped aboard an airport catering truck, which was elevated planeside utilizing hydraulics and positioned at a door on the alternative aspect of Air Drive One’s entrance.
The small group of reporters who thought they have been travelling with Mr. Trump have been suggested to decrease their window shades forward of takeoff.
After arriving at Mildenhall, information photographers captured photos of Mr. Trump getting off the presidential airplane — suggesting he reboarded Air Drive One out of sight of the pack of journalists who thought they have been travelling with him.
Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal referred to as for a congressional investigation.
“It’s unprecedented and it’s surreal,” he mentioned Monday on CNN, calling the incident “downright scary.”
After the temporary go to to the bottom at Mildenhall, Mr. Trump boarded the brand new Air Drive One plane to fly the remainder of the way in which to Washington.
Throughout a gaggle with reporters aboard the plane, Mr. Trump was requested straight if there was any credible threats on Air Drive One by Iran.
“Effectively, I’ve a menace on a regular basis. I’m primary on their record earlier than you,” Mr. Trump mentioned. He added to the touring reporters, “But when I’m going, you go.”
Printed – August 11, 2026 01:12 pm IST
