WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has revealed that an Iranian assassination threat prompted his security team to secretly move him to another aircraft in Turkiye last month, saying the plane he subsequently boarded was potentially more vulnerable than Air Force One.
According to Reuters, Trump said he was transferred from Air Force One to a military aircraft at the direction of the US Secret Service after attending a NATO summit in Turkiye.
US media reports said Trump was discreetly moved between aircraft using a catering truck as part of security precautions.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said the aircraft he later travelled on was arguably more exposed because it could have been a more likely target for a potential attacker.
Trump said he follows instructions from the Secret Service and the military. He added that he had been informed there was a security threat but did not seek further details, saying he receives numerous threats.
The White House had announced at the time that Trump departed Turkiye for Britain aboard Air Force One. However, The Washington Post reported that shortly after boarding the aircraft, Trump was secretly taken off using a catering truck and transferred to another plane.
Trump had arrived in Ankara for the NATO summit aboard a new aircraft gifted by Qatar. However, upon departure from Turkiye, he unexpectedly announced that he would travel on the older Air Force One, raising questions about the security of the new aircraft.
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The report said the Qatar-donated aircraft was making its first international trip with Trump. Its expedited refurbishment costs and security arrangements had already drawn scrutiny, while the trip came amid heightened tensions with Iran, which shares a border with Turkiye.
