US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he was secretly transferred from the presidential aircraft to a smaller military jet after US security officials detected a potential threat following the NATO summit in Turkey.
Trump said the decision was taken by the US Secret Service and military officials, who instructed him to change aircraft after he had already boarded the presidential plane.
“I believe there was a threat,” Trump told reporters during a visit to Ohio, adding that he did not ask for further details because he regularly receives security threats.
The disclosure follows reports that Trump boarded the presidential aircraft at Ankara airport on July 8 in full view of television cameras before being covertly moved to a C-32A military aircraft, a modified Boeing 757 typically used by the US vice-president.
According to reports, Trump was removed from the presidential aircraft using a catering truck positioned alongside the plane before being transferred to the smaller military jet.
US officials reportedly became concerned about a possible Iranian threat to the aircraft carrying the president. CBS News reported that authorities had identified a credible threat involving a potential Iranian missile strike, while The New York Times reported that intelligence had identified an individual near the NATO summit who was allegedly carrying a shoulder-fired missile.
Trump suggested that the smaller aircraft he eventually boarded could itself have been considered a potential target because of the circumstances surrounding the switch.
The president had travelled to Turkey aboard a newer Boeing 747-8 aircraft donated by Qatar but had previously indicated that he would return to the United States on the older Air Force One.
Footage showed Trump boarding the presidential aircraft at Ankara airport before the secret transfer was carried out.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly boarded the C-32A separately using external stairs as officials sought to keep the operation discreet.
Meanwhile, journalists and some White House staff remained aboard the original aircraft and were instructed to keep their window shades closed, without being informed that Trump was no longer on board.
A media pool producer described the instruction as unusual, while a photographer who briefly opened a window shade was reportedly asked to close it.
The White House Correspondents’ Association also said catering trucks were positioned near both the front and rear of the aircraft when journalists arrived. The media vehicle was reportedly positioned too far back in the airport motorcade to capture footage of Trump boarding the aircraft.
The C-32A reportedly operated under the call sign “Reach 18” during the transfer, while the aircraft carrying journalists continued using “AF1”, apparently maintaining the impression that Trump remained aboard.
Several senior administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, reportedly stayed on the original aircraft.
The group later stopped at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom during the return journey, where Trump was transferred back to the older presidential aircraft before eventually moving onto the Qatar-donated jet.
Trump subsequently spoke with reporters during the journey and discussed threats from Iran but did not reveal that he had been secretly moved between aircraft.
The revelation has raised questions about the safety of journalists and other passengers who remained aboard the original aircraft without being informed of the potential security threat.
Jose Zamora, regional director for the Americas at the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the administration had a responsibility to ensure that journalists travelling with the president were not unnecessarily exposed to security risks.
He also stressed that reporters should be informed about credible threats where possible so they can make informed decisions about their personal safety.
