U.S. intelligence officials reportedly questioned the credibility of an Israeli warning about a possible Iranian plot to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump during his visit to Turkey, according to reporting by The Washington Post.
CIA analysts reportedly did not consider the intelligence compelling, while one U.S. official described the warning as having “low confidence.” Despite the doubts, the information prompted an extraordinary security response around the U.S. president.
According to the report, Trump was secretly transported from Ankara aboard an airport food-supply truck to an alternative military aircraft, which then flew him from Turkey to the United Kingdom.
The warning reportedly claimed that Iran could be planning an attempt on Trump’s life during his visit to Turkey. However, U.S. intelligence officials questioned whether the information was sufficiently reliable to support the assessment.
Some American officials also reportedly suspected that Israel may have passed along the warning with the additional aim of influencing Trump’s policy toward the region.
One U.S. official said the episode fit a broader pattern involving Israeli intelligence assessments that some American officials believe may be intended, at least in part, to shape the president’s decision-making.
The reported concerns come amid tensions over the relationship between Washington and Ankara, as well as Trump’s relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
According to the report, Israel is particularly concerned about closer ties between the United States and Turkey and the growing relationship between Trump and Erdoğan.
The episode highlights the sensitivity surrounding intelligence-sharing between Washington and its allies, particularly when assessments involve potential threats to the U.S. president and major geopolitical decisions in the Middle East.
