President Trump reportedly left the NATO summit in Turkey aboard a secret alternative aircraft, according to the Washington Post, after an alleged Iranian assassination threat. Journalists and some staff believed they were traveling on Air Force One; instead, officials say Trump was moved via an airport catering truck to a smaller C-32A jet while the older blue Air Force One flew on to Royal Air Force Mildenhall with reporters aboard.
The administration had said at the time that the new Qatari-gifted jet was flown out early so British-based troops could see it, not mentioning any security operation. Asked about the report, the White House did not directly answer questions, with communications director Steven Cheung saying only that 'many enemies of America' have Trump in their sights and that 'every tool' is used to protect him.
The switch reportedly coincided with US strikes on Iran in retaliation for attacks on merchant shipping, and intelligence officials had reportedly raised concerns about threats to Trump or his aircraft. A former Secret Service agent called the move unusual but not unprecedented, given regional volatility.
The full dispatch is available from the source below.