US President Donald Trump secretly switched from Air Force One to a smaller military aircraft while leaving Turkey last month after an Iranian assassination threat, according to an investigation by The Washington Post. The extraordinary operation meant journalists and some White House staff travelling on the Presidential aircraft believed Trump was aboard, while he was actually flown separately to Britain, the newspaper reported.

The operation took place on July 8, shortly after US forces resumed strikes on Iran following the collapse of negotiations between Washington and Tehran to end their months-long war. A US official familiar with the operation and another person with knowledge of Trump’s travel told the Post that the operation was prompted by a “credible threat” against the President.

Inside Trump’s Secret Move

Trump had arrived in Turkey aboard the newer Boeing 747-8 aircraft gifted to the US by Qatar. He had announced that he would leave Turkey aboard the older blue-and-white Boeing 747 that had previously served as Air Force One, rather than the Qatari aircraft.

Television cameras filmed Trump boarding the legacy Air Force One at Ankara airport. But, according to the Post, he was secretly transferred minutes later to a smaller US Air Force C-32A. The transfer was carried out using an airport catering truck normally used to load food and other supplies onto aircraft, according to the newspaper’s sources and material it reviewed.

The operation turned the legacy Air Force One into a “decoy”, with journalists and some White House staff aboard while Trump was on the C-32A, one US official told the Post. The C-32A had been flown to Turkey alongside the two Boeing 747s to support the President’s visit. It is a modified Boeing 757 normally used to transport senior US government officials and can also carry the President or vice-President.

The operation meant that Trump’s actual location was concealed from the public and some senior officials for several hours.

As journalists boarded the legacy Air Force One, White House staff instructed them to close the aircraft’s window shades, according to a media pool report. The Post said footage from Ankara showed a catering truck positioned beside the legacy Air Force One, with its container raised to the level of the aircraft.

Trump arrived in a limousine, climbed the aircraft’s stairs and waved towards the tarmac before boarding.

Minutes later, according to the newspaper, the catering truck moved away from Air Force One and towards the C-32A.

A man in a suit was seen entering the truck’s cab, while the container was lowered before the vehicle drove towards the smaller aircraft.

The Post said the footage appeared to show a person later climbing the stairs into the C-32A.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth boarded the smaller aircraft separately using external stairs, according to the newspaper’s sources and other material it reviewed. Hegseth travelled with Trump to Britain on the C-32A, the Post reported.

Iran Threat Prompted Operation

The operation came amid heightened concerns about threats against Trump from Iran.

US intelligence officials had previously flagged a specific threat of an attack against the President or his aircraft, according to reports by The New York Times and CBS News.

The US has long been concerned about Iranian plots targeting American officials. Those concerns have intensified following US involvement in the killing of senior Iranian military and political figures.

In response to questions from the Post, White House communications director Steven Cheung defended the security of the aircraft gifted by Qatar. “The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff,” Cheung said. “As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats.”

Publicly available flight-tracking data reviewed by the Post suggests that the three aircraft followed different paths after leaving Turkey.

The Qatari aircraft flew to RAF Mildenhall in Britain using the call sign “SAM 33”.

The legacy Air Force One, carrying journalists and White House staff, later appeared on radar near Istanbul and eventually adopted the “AF1” call sign despite Trump not being aboard. It arrived at Mildenhall at about 22:29 local time, according to the data.

The C-32A did not appear in publicly available flight-tracking data, but videos posted online showed the aircraft arriving in Britain at about 22:20, followed by the legacy Air Force One several minutes later.

During the flight back to the US, Trump spoke to journalists for about 15 minutes. He discussed the threat posed by Iran but did not publicly acknowledge the aircraft switch.

Asked why reporters had been instructed to lower the window shades while in Turkey, Mr Trump said: “because you’re probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleaze bags that we have to deal with.”

He said he faced a threat to his life “all the time” and claimed he was “number one” on Iran’s “list”. “But if I go, you go. Right?” Trump told reporters. “Perhaps someday you want to change professions.”

The revelation comes amid continuing scrutiny of the newer aircraft gifted to the US by Qatar. The aircraft has been criticised over the extent of its defensive capabilities compared with the legacy Presidential jets.

The Trump administration has defended its security. “The aircraft is safe, secure, and equipped with the most advanced technologies necessary to meet requirements of the Presidential mission,” the US Air Force said in a statement. “No risk was taken in security, safety, or mission communications,” it added.