US President Donald Trump reportedly left Turkey on a secret military flight in July after US officials received a credible threat from Iran, rather than departing on the older Air Force One aircraft that had been publicly announced by the White House, The Washington Post reported.
Trump had arrived in Ankara for the NATO summit aboard the newly renovated jet donated by Qatar. But before leaving Turkey, he unexpectedly said he would travel home on an older Air Force One aircraft, describing the decision as being “for old times’ sake.” The change prompted questions about the safety of the Qatari-donated plane.
According to The Washington Post, Trump boarded the older Air Force One in front of cameras as part of a decoy operation. He was then secretly transported from the airport by a catering truck to a smaller US Air Force C-32A aircraft, which was used to fly him out of Turkey. The report cited corroborating material and a US official familiar with the operation.
Journalists who remained aboard the decoy Air Force One believed Trump was traveling with them. They were instructed to keep the window shades in the press cabin closed during the flight.
When reporters later asked Trump about the unusual instruction, he said they were “probably on a dangerous flight.” He then added, “But if I go, you go. Right?”
