ANKARA— US President Donald Trump reportedly used an elaborate security deception to leave Turkey on a secret military flight in July 2026 after an Iranian assassination threat emerged during the NATO summit.
The operation involved Trump appearing to board the former Air Force One before reportedly transferring to a smaller U.S. Air Force C-32A through an airport catering vehicle.
Trump had arrived in Ankara aboard the newly acquired Boeing 747-8 associated with the U.S. presidential fleet, while Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB) served as the main airport for his Turkey visit.
He later traveled to RAF Mildenhall (MHZ) in the United Kingdom, where the C-32A reportedly arrived shortly before the decoy presidential aircraft.
Trump Secret Flight Operation
According to reporting by The Washington Post and The New York Times, security officials designed the operation to conceal Trump’s actual aircraft and location from potential threats.
Trump publicly boarded the older Air Force One in front of cameras, creating the impression that he would use the aircraft for his journey to Britain.
Instead, officials reportedly moved Trump from the aircraft using an airport catering truck normally used to deliver meals and supplies. The vehicle transported him to the C-32A, a modified Boeing 757 operated by the U.S. Air Force for high-level government travel.
The operation also reportedly concealed Trump’s movements from some White House personnel and members of the traveling press pool. Journalists who remained aboard the older aircraft were reportedly instructed to keep their window shades closed during the flight.
Trump’s Air Force One Decoy Escape Strategy
The older Air Force One then served as a decoy while Trump traveled separately aboard the C-32A. The C-32A reached Britain at approximately 10:20 p.m. local time, with the older presidential aircraft and media arriving minutes later, according to the reports.
Trump later appeared at Mildenhall after leaving the older aircraft, greeting U.S. service members before moving toward the newer Qatar-donated presidential jet.
His public movements helped maintain the appearance that he had traveled aboard the aircraft journalists had expected him to use.
The White House did not directly dispute the reported operation.
Communications Director Steve Cheung said the Qatar-donated aircraft had been equipped with high-level security measures and emphasized that the administration uses available resources to protect the president from threats.
Iran Threat Prompted Aircraft Switch
A U.S. official cited by The Washington Post said a credible threat involving Iran triggered the deception operation. The reported security decision came as tensions involving Iran were escalating and Trump was attending the NATO summit in Ankara.
Trump had previously said on Truth Social that he would return to Britain aboard the former Air Force One “for old time’s sake.” The newer Boeing 747-8 had made its first international trip for the NATO summit, while plans allowed U.S. service members at Mildenhall to tour the aircraft.
The reported operation has drawn attention because it used a presidential aircraft as a decoy while moving Trump aboard a separate military aircraft.
A similar deception was used during former President Bill Clinton’s 2000 visit to Pakistan, when an unmarked executive jet reportedly served as his transport while Air Force One acted as a decoy.
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