Trump secretly switched planes over Iranian assassination threat – WaPo
President Trump was secretly taken off Air Force One in an airport catering truck and flown out of Turkey aboard a smaller military aircraft because of an Iranian assassination threat, while journalists and some White House staff traveled on the decoy plane, according to a new report by The Washington Post.
The operation took place on July 8 as Trump left Ankara after attending a NATO summit. It came one night after U.S. forces resumed strikes on Iran following the initial breakdown of negotiations.
According to the exclusive report by The Washington Post, Trump initially boarded the Boeing 747 in view of television cameras. Minutes later, he and several aides stepped into an airport catering truck through a door on the opposite side of the aircraft, out of sight of those who were not involved in the operation.
The truck, which is normally used to load food and supplies, lowered Trump to the ground and transported him to an Air Force C-32A. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth boarded the smaller aircraft separately using external stairs and traveled with Trump to Britain.
The Post said the operation was set in motion by a credible threat involving Iran. Its report was based on material reviewed by the newspaper, a U.S. official familiar with the mission and another person with knowledge of Trump’s travel.
Journalists and some White House staff remained aboard the Boeing 747 without knowing Trump had switched aircraft. They were told to close their window shades while the plane was on the ground, according to a media pool report.
Trump’s aircraft traveled to Britain using the call sign “Reach 18,” or “RCH18,” while the decoy initially appeared on radar without a call sign. Despite Trump not being aboard, it began using the “AF1” call sign during the flight.
The C-32A carrying Trump arrived at RAF Mildenhall in Britain at about 10:20 p.m. local time. The decoy plane landed several minutes later, at about 10:29 p.m.
It is unclear how Trump moved between the two aircraft after landing, but he appeared before television cameras and descended from the Boeing 747 at about 10:56 p.m. He greeted U.S. service members before boarding the newer Boeing 747-8, which was gifted to the United States by Qatar, for the flight to Washington.
The White House said publicly that Trump had traveled from Turkey aboard the former Air Force One and posted a photograph of the aircraft after his arrival in Britain. The administration has continued to repeat that account.
Trump spoke to journalists for about 15 minutes during the flight to Washington. Asked why the window shades had been lowered in Turkey, he said they had been on a “dangerous flight” and added that he faces threats “all the time” and is “number one” on Iran’s list. He did not disclose the aircraft switch.
My favorite part: This Turkish catering truck nonchalantly moving from Air Force One to the other plane pic.twitter.com/KYVm4FsG4W
— John Hudson (@John_Hudson) August 11, 2026
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