WP: Trump Secretly Flew Out of Turkey on a Military Plane Due to Threat from Iran

US President Donald Trump secretly left Turkey on a military plane in July due to an assassination threat linked to Iran. Meanwhile, the White House publicly claimed that the American leader was on another plane, which was actually used as a decoy.

The secret operation was carried out on July 8 after the NATO summit in Ankara. The day before, the United States resumed strikes on Iran following the failure of negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Trump initially boarded the former presidential Boeing 747 in the presence of TV cameras. However, a few minutes later, he and several aides were discreetly moved to another aircraft—a military C-32A, based on the Boeing 757.

A catering truck was used to covertly transport the president. The vehicle was raised to the doors on the opposite side of the presidential plane, after which it took Trump to the C-32A.

Meanwhile, journalists and some White House staff remained on board the Boeing 747, believing they were flying with the president. They were asked to close the window shades. During the flight, the plane received the call sign Air Force One, although Trump was not on board.

In reality, the president, along with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, flew to the United Kingdom on the C-32A. This aircraft used a standard military transport call sign, Reach 18, and the systems that allow its route to be tracked were turned off.

After arriving at the British airbase Mildenhall, Trump reappeared before cameras near the former Air Force One. The White House later issued a statement claiming that the president had arrived in the United Kingdom on that very plane.

According to the publication, the operation was organized after intelligence received information about a specific threat of attack on Trump or his plane. Concerns intensified due to combat operations against Iran and the US involvement in the elimination of Iranian military and political leaders.

An additional factor was questions regarding the security of the new Boeing 747-8, transferred to the United States by Qatar. The plane lacks some of the defensive systems equipped on previous presidential aircraft.

The White House did not directly deny the secret flight. In response to the publication's inquiry, they stated that all available means are used to protect the president. The Pentagon and the Secret Service redirected questions to the Trump administration.

Based on materials from: The Washington Post