Trump Secretly Flew on Alternate Military Aircraft Amid Iranian Threat: Report
TL/DR –
President Donald Trump covertly flew on an alternate military aircraft from last month’s NATO summit in Turkey due to an Iranian assassination threat, according to The Washington Post. Rather than fly on the usual Air Force One or the newly gifted Qatari jet, Trump was reportedly secretly transferred to a smaller plane, an Air Force C-32A, via an airport catering truck. The manoeuvre was carried out while journalists and some White House staff thought they were on the same plane as the president, and the White House has not confirmed the report.
Trump Secretly Flew on Alternate Military Aircraft Due to Iranian Assassination Threat, Report Claims
President Donald Trump surreptitiously departed from Ankara, Turkey, during the NATO summit last month on an alternate military plane, while it was portrayed that the president was on Air Force One, as per The Washington Post. The operation, spurred by an alleged Iranian assassination threat against Trump, misled some White House staff and journalists into thinking they were traveling with the president.
Evidence reviewed by The Post, a U.S. official familiar with the event, and another person with insight into the president’s travel supported these claims. However, The Associated Press has yet to independently confirm the report.
Despite arriving at the summit on a luxury jet, gifted by Qatar, Trump declared he would return partway on an older-model Air Force One. Trump and his team boarded the older jumbo jet in full view of press cameras, before being quietly transferred to a smaller Air Force C-32A plane via an airport catering truck. This plane ultimately flew the president to the United Kingdom.
While the White House refrained from directly addressing questions about the secret operation, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung stated they utilize all available tools to handle threats against the president.
Security Concerns Surround New Qatari-Gifted Plane
During Trump’s time in Turkey, the U.S. military executed extensive strikes in Iran in retaliation for attacks on merchant ships. Intelligence officials expressed concerns about potential attacks on the president’s jet, causing extra precautions and a decision to avoid using the new plane gifted by Qatar. Consequently, this exchange prompted questions regarding the security of the Qatar-supplied aircraft. Cheung insisted, however, that the new plane was equipped with top-level security protocols.
These revelations add to understanding the severity of the threat against Trump during the continually waged war with Iran. Paul Eckloff, former Secret Service agent, said such an unusual move could indicate either actionable intelligence or an abundance of caution given the regional instability.
After arriving at Mildenhall, UK, photographs show Trump exiting the presidential plane, implying he boarded Air Force One out of sight of the journalists. Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal called for a congressional briefing on this unusual incident.
Following a brief visit to the Mildenhall base, Trump boarded the new Air Force One for his return to Washington. When asked aboard the aircraft about credible threats from Iran, Trump replied, “Well, I have a threat all the time. I’m number one on their list before you,” he told the traveling reporters.
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