Trump's Secret Plane Swap Triggers Questions and Confusion

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed that he secretly switched planes during a trip to Turkey because of a threat to his life, after reports revealed that he was moved from Air Force One to another aircraft in a covert security operation.

Trump said he was instructed to use a different plane after an unspecified threat emerged.

“I guess there was a threat out there. I didn't really ask too much about it,” he told reporters.

According to reports, Trump secretly left Air Force One while it was on the ground in Turkey on July 8 and boarded a smaller US Air Force aircraft positioned nearby. Journalists and senior aides remained aboard Air Force One and were unaware of the switch.

The operation reportedly involved moving Trump off the presidential aircraft through a cargo container on a catering truck before Air Force One departed.

Some journalists travelling with Trump expressed anger after learning they had unknowingly remained on the presidential aircraft, potentially serving as decoys. Others criticised the White House for failing to inform them about the security operation.

Trump had initially boarded Air Force One in full view of journalists and photographers. He later reportedly left the aircraft through one of the cargo containers before boarding the alternative plane.

“I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk,” Trump said, suggesting that the alternative aircraft may have been considered a more likely target.

Around a dozen journalists travelling in a separate section of Air Force One were unaware of the change and flew out of Turkey on the presidential aircraft despite an apparent threat from Iran, which was at war with the United States.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel had warned the United States about a possible shoulder-fired missile attack targeting Air Force One. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was among the senior officials and staff who remained on the aircraft.

Journalists travelling with Trump also reported that the Secret Service ordered window shades to remain lowered during takeoff, an unusual security measure outside combat zones.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for Congress to be briefed on the reported Iranian threats against Trump and the extraordinary measures taken to move him out of Turkey.

Trump's trip had already attracted attention after he arrived at a NATO summit aboard a luxury Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar. The aircraft was reportedly not equipped with the same anti-missile security systems as Air Force One, prompting the use of the presidential aircraft for part of the journey.

Trump had previously said the Qatar-gifted aircraft was being sent ahead for US troops in Britain to tour. He later used it again for his flight to Washington.

When asked at the time why journalists had been instructed to lower the aircraft's window shades, Trump referred to the flight as potentially dangerous because of threats facing him.

The use of decoy aircraft for presidential security is not unprecedented. In 2000, then-President Bill Clinton switched presidential planes at the last minute while travelling from India to Pakistan, using a decoy aircraft carrying Secret Service agents.

Former President Joe Biden's 2023 visit to Ukraine was also conducted under strict secrecy, involving a long journey by plane and train, although a reporter and photographer accompanied him.