Trump secretly switched to military aircraft over alleged Iranian assassination threat
8/11/2026 12:02:32 PM
U.S. intelligence agencies secretly moved President Donald Trump to a military aircraft instead of the presidential plane because of an alleged Iranian assassination threat, Novosti reported, citing sources.
The Washington Post reported that Trump boarded the older, double-deck presidential aircraft in Ankara in full view of television cameras. Minutes later, however, he was secretly transferred to a smaller U.S. military C-32A transport aircraft using an airport catering truck typically used to load meals and other supplies before flights.
According to the newspaper, U.S. intelligence agencies carried out the operation without the knowledge of accompanying journalists or some White House staff aboard the presidential aircraft, who believed Trump was traveling with them.
The U.S. president’s return trip underwent a last-minute change amid security concerns raised over the new Air Force One aircraft gifted to him by Qatar.
The Washington Post reported that Trump boarded the older, double-deck presidential aircraft in Ankara in full view of television cameras. Minutes later, however, he was secretly transferred to a smaller U.S. military C-32A transport aircraft using an airport catering truck typically used to load meals and other supplies before flights.
According to the newspaper, U.S. intelligence agencies carried out the operation without the knowledge of accompanying journalists or some White House staff aboard the presidential aircraft, who believed Trump was traveling with them.
The U.S. president’s return trip underwent a last-minute change amid security concerns raised over the new Air Force One aircraft gifted to him by Qatar.