Trump Uses Decoy Planes on Ankara NATO Trip

During the NATO summit departure from Turkey, Trump did not publicly board the aircraft described as Air Force One but was secretly transferred to a smaller C-32A jet via an airport catering truck amid a credible Iranian assassination threat. Journalists and some White House staff were kept unaware, with window shades kept down as they traveled on what appeared to be the decoy plane. The operation moved Trump from the older Air Force One to the smaller craft before he continued to Mildenhall in Britain, while the Qatar-donated jet he arrived on remained at the base for troops to tour. The White House has not publicly confirmed the report, though officials acknowledge heightened security concerns and threats against the president. The episode highlights a rare, highly orchestrated security maneuver that used a decoy aircraft and a catering truck, raising questions about transparency in presidential travel. The developments echo past decoy operations and underscore ongoing tensions around security for high-profile American leaders.