President Trump’s decision to depart Turkey on a different aircraft last month was prompted by intelligence indicating a threat of a shoulder-fired missile attack, according to a report.
US intelligence learned that Iran had gathered information about which hotel floor Trump was staying on in Ankara, and an unidentified individual was observed with a shoulder-fired missile near the NATO heads of state conference. This threat led to the president's secret switch to a smaller military plane for his departure from Turkey on July 8, the New York Times reported.
Other news outlets have confirmed that the potential threat of a shoulder-fired missile was the reason for the change in travel plans. Trump himself confirmed the departure alteration, stating that he followed the recommendations of the Secret Service and military for safety reasons. "They wanted me to go in a different flight, a different plane for safety. They wanted me to do it, so I did it. I did what they said," Trump told reporters.
He left Ankara aboard a smaller military jet, while the larger Air Force One, serving as a decoy, remained on the tarmac. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung stayed aboard Air Force One, while Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino accompanied Trump on the smaller aircraft. US fighter jets were reportedly in the air to provide protection for both planes.
Earlier that day, Trump had announced that the newer, Qatar-donated version of Air Force One was being sent from Ankara to allow US soldiers based in the United Kingdom to tour the aircraft. This decision had initially been believed to be motivated by the older model of Air Force One possessing more advanced anti-missile technologies, particularly as Trump had mentioned Tehran's interest in targeting him while banners calling for his assassination were displayed across Iran.
This departure method echoes a past incident in 2000 when then-President Bill Clinton made a stealthy arrival in Pakistan aboard a different jet, though some reporters were informed of the plan. The White House has not commented on the specific threat in Ankara.