WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has said the aircraft he secretly boarded in Turkiye last month may have exposed him to a greater security risk than Air Force One, while insisting he followed instructions from the US Secret Service.
Trump made the remarks after reports revealed that he was covertly transferred from Air Force One to another US military aircraft following the NATO summit in Ankara, amid an alleged Iranian threat against him.
“I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday. He suggested that the aircraft he eventually travelled on could have been a more likely target because its role in carrying him was known to the security authorities.
Trump said the decision to change aircraft was made by the Secret Service and that he did not question the security assessment in detail.
“Well, it’s only up to the Secret Service. I just follow what they’d like to do, so I go by Secret Service and the military,” he said.
Asked about the reported threat, Trump said he had not sought extensive details and added that he regularly received threats. “I guess there was a threat out there. I didn’t really ask too much about it. I get a lot of threats,” he said.
Covert transfer kept secret
According to US media reports, Trump had initially been expected to travel from Turkiye to Britain aboard Air Force One. After boarding the presidential aircraft, however, he was moved in secret to another military plane through a catering truck.
The unusual operation was not publicly disclosed by the White House and only became known after The Washington Post reported the aircraft switch on Monday, citing unnamed sources.
The revelation prompted questions about the security implications for White House officials, staff and journalists who remained aboard the aircraft that was publicly believed to be carrying the president.
Trump’s comments came after social media users circulated memes portraying him as hiding inside the catering vehicle during the operation.
The president, who frequently embraces online memes portraying him as strong and fearless, appeared keen to stress that the decision was a security measure directed by the authorities responsible for protecting him.
Qatari aircraft raises security questions
The incident followed Trump’s use of a newly renovated aircraft donated by Qatar for his journey to Ankara for the NATO summit. He had initially been expected to depart Turkiye on the same aircraft but unexpectedly switched to an older Air Force One before continuing his journey to Britain.
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The decision raised questions about the security of the Qatari-donated aircraft, particularly because Trump’s trip marked its first international use.
The aircraft had undergone extensive and costly modifications after being accepted by the United States, drawing scrutiny over both the expense of the upgrades and potential security concerns.
The aircraft switch also came against the backdrop of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. Turkiye shares a border with Iran, adding to the sensitivity surrounding Trump’s movements during the NATO summit.
The White House has not publicly provided detailed information about the specific threat that prompted the Secret Service to alter Trump’s travel arrangements.
Trump’s comments nevertheless confirmed that the aircraft change was deliberate and security-driven, while leaving unanswered questions about why the alternative military aircraft was ultimately considered the safer option despite the president’s view that it could itself have presented a greater risk.
