Trump Secretly Flown From Turkey to UK After Iran Assassination Threat – Reports
US President Donald Trump was secretly moved from Turkey to the United Kingdom aboard a smaller military aircraft after American officials identified what they considered a credible threat from Iranian proxy forces, according to reports.
The reported security operation took place following the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where Trump had arrived aboard a newly retrofitted Boeing 747-8 aircraft donated by Qatar.
According to the reports, US officials became concerned that Iranian-backed forces could target Trump and the aircraft carrying him. Earlier reports had already indicated that the Secret Service advised Trump to use the older Air Force One as a precaution amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.
A new report has now provided further details of the operation, claiming that Trump was secretly transferred from the aircraft through an airport catering truck and taken to a smaller C-32A military aircraft.
The operation reportedly involved using the traditional Air Force One as a decoy, creating the impression that Trump was travelling aboard the aircraft while he had actually been moved to the smaller military jet.
The C-32A subsequently flew to RAF Mildenhall in England, where Trump later reappeared and continued his journey aboard the newer aircraft. The Associated Press, citing a Washington Post report, described the operation as an elaborate security deception designed to conceal Trump's actual location.
The reported threat came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran and concerns over possible Iranian retaliation following US military action against Iran.
The security concerns also highlighted questions surrounding the newly acquired Qatari aircraft. US officials had previously indicated that the aircraft did not initially have all the advanced defensive capabilities of the older Air Force One fleet.
Trump had publicly offered a different explanation for the aircraft switch at the time, saying the newer plane was being sent to Europe so US military personnel could inspect it.
The president has previously acknowledged the danger posed by threats from Iran and said he remained a potential target.
The latest revelations have sparked questions about the extent of the threat and the secrecy surrounding the operation, particularly because journalists and some members of the presidential travelling party were reportedly unaware of the switch.
Security experts, however, note that presidential protection operations can involve deception and changes to travel arrangements when intelligence agencies identify potential threats.
The White House and security agencies have maintained that protecting the president is their highest priority.
The reported episode underscores the heightened security environment surrounding Trump as tensions between the United States and Iran remain a major international concern.
While the full details of the intelligence behind the reported threat have not been publicly disclosed, US officials have described the security concern as credible enough to justify changing the president's travel arrangements.