US President Donald Trump was reportedly flown from Turkey to Britain on a smaller military aircraft last month after an alleged Iranian assassination threat, while the White House publicly maintained that he was travelling aboard Air Force One.
The Washington Post and The New York Times reported the development on Tuesday, saying the operation took place during Trump’s visit to Ankara for a NATO summit.
According to The Washington Post, Trump initially boarded the former Air Force One in front of television cameras.
He was, however, reportedly transferred minutes later to another aircraft using an airport catering truck, which normally transports meals and supplies to planes.
A US official told the newspaper that the move was prompted by a credible threat linked to Iran.
The New York Times also reported that Trump’s actual location was kept from journalists and some White House staff travelling with him.
The White House had earlier said Trump left Turkey on July 8 aboard the former Air Force One.
Trump had also announced on Truth Social that he would use the older Boeing 747 rather than the newer Boeing 747-8 aircraft donated by Qatar, which had flown him to Turkey.
The NATO trip was the first international journey for the Qatar-donated aircraft, which has attracted scrutiny over its security upgrades and modifications.
Before departing Ankara, Trump said he would fly the older blue-and-white Air Force One “for old time’s sake” to RAF Mildenhall in Britain.
He said the newer aircraft would also travel to the base so US military personnel stationed there could tour it.
However, The Washington Post reported that Trump was actually moved from a third aircraft to the older Air Force One shortly before departure.
The reported operation involved Trump boarding the presidential aircraft through a different entrance before later appearing on its stairs in public, creating the impression that he had travelled on the aircraft throughout the journey.
Members of the travelling press pool were reportedly instructed to keep the window shades in their section closed during the flight. Some White House officials were also said to have believed that Trump was aboard the aircraft.
When reporters later asked Trump why they had been told to keep the shades closed, he joked that they were “probably on a dangerous flight.”
“But if I go, you go. Right?” he added.
The C-32A carrying Trump reportedly arrived in Britain at about 10:20pm local time, while the former Air Force One and the media travelling separately arrived a few minutes later.
Trump’s travelling press pool reported that he emerged from the older Air Force One at about 10:56pm, flashed a peace sign and greeted US service members before walking towards the Qatar-donated aircraft.
The reported operation has been compared with a similar security manoeuvre carried out during former President Bill Clinton’s visit to Pakistan in 2000, when an unmarked executive aircraft was used to transport him while Air Force One served as a decoy.
Responding to the reports, White House communications director Steve Cheung said the Qatar-donated aircraft had been fitted with high-level security measures to protect Trump and his staff.
“As the president has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats,” Cheung said.
