US President Donald Trump was secretly moved onto a different military aircraft while leaving Turkey last month after American intelligence agencies received what officials considered a credible threat of an Iranian assassination attempt, The Washington Post has reported.
The covert security operation took place after the NATO summit in Ankara and was designed to conceal Trump’s location, including from journalists and some White House staff members who believed the president was travelling aboard Air Force One.
According to the report, Trump initially boarded the older Air Force One in full view of television cameras, creating the impression that he would fly directly to Britain aboard the presidential aircraft.
Minutes later, however, Trump and members of his team secretly left the plane using a catering vehicle positioned alongside the aircraft. They were transported to a C-32A military jet, which Trump then used to travel to Britain.
The operation was part of an elaborate deception designed to prevent Trump’s actual location from being identified. Journalists and some White House personnel remained aboard Air Force One and believed the president was still on board.
The C-32A reportedly operated under the call sign “Reach 18”, while systems that could have made the aircraft easier to track were switched off. The older Air Force One effectively served as a decoy during the operation.
The security measures came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. According to the Washington Post report, US intelligence had identified a specific threat targeting Trump or the aircraft on which he was expected to travel.
Additional concerns reportedly surrounded the newer Boeing 747-8 aircraft that Trump had used to travel to Turkey. The aircraft, which had been gifted to the United States by Qatar, had been the subject of debate over whether it possessed all of the defensive systems available on the older presidential aircraft.
After arriving at RAF Mildenhall in Britain, Trump was again seen emerging from the older Air Force One, reinforcing the public impression that he had travelled aboard that aircraft from Turkey. He subsequently boarded the newer Qatari aircraft for the journey back to the United States.
The White House did not directly confirm the details of the covert operation. Officials said the new aircraft was secure and that the administration uses every available means to protect the president.
Trump later acknowledged that threats against his life were a constant concern and said he remained a primary target for Iran.
The reported operation highlights the extent to which US security officials were prepared to use deception and multiple aircraft to conceal the president’s movements amid escalating tensions with Tehran.
