Some U.S. intelligence officials expressed skepticism regarding the reported Iranian threat that prompted President Donald Trump to secretly switch aircraft while returning from a NATO summit in July, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter. The alleged threat led to Trump being covertly moved from Air Force One to a smaller C-32A aircraft via a catering truck.
Both current and former U.S. officials told The Washington Post that the assassination threat was relayed to the CIA by the Israeli government. However, analysts within the intelligence community reportedly did not consider the intelligence compelling and conveyed their reservations to Trump administration officials. A separate source described the reported threats as "Israeli-derived" rather than U.S.-generated and characterized them as "low-confidence" intelligence.
This skepticism adds a new dimension to the White House's decision to conceal Trump's movements as he departed Turkey on July 8. Trump was initially expected to travel on a new Boeing 747-8 aircraft gifted by Qatar. However, concerns arose that this newer plane lacked the security and communication capabilities of the standard Air Force One, leading to the switch to an older jet.
The elaborate maneuver involved Trump leaving the legacy Air Force One discreetly, using an airport catering truck to reach a third aircraft, an Air Force C-32A, for his flight to the United Kingdom. This operation reportedly misled journalists and some senior White House staffers aboard the original Air Force One, which then flew as a "decoy."
A U.S. official stated that the president has faced numerous threats, including from Iran, and that all measures are taken to ensure his safety, adding that the Secret Service successfully fulfilled its core mission of protecting the president. However, some officials suggested that Israel's sharing of the warning might have been intended not only to protect Trump but also to influence his political decisions regarding Iran, Turkey, and other Middle Eastern countries.
Officials indicated that such efforts could shape U.S. policy in the region. Israel views Iran as its primary threat and Turkey as a medium- to long-term concern, growing uneasy about increasing closeness between Washington and Ankara. A former official suggested this warning aligned with a pattern of Israeli intelligence reporting perceived by some U.S. officials as designed to shape presidential decision-making.
Despite being briefed on the intelligence and the Secret Service's plan, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) expressed curiosity about the credibility and independent verifiability of the Israeli-provided intelligence. He remarked that while Iran might wish harm upon the president, the scenario seemed "fantastical."
Trump himself commented on the incident, stating he followed the Secret Service's request for a different flight for safety reasons. He downplayed the significance of the intel, acknowledging threats against his life but not inquiring deeply. He also suggested that the C-32A he traveled on might have been at greater risk than the decoy Air Force One. Following the secret flight, Trump spoke with reporters about the threats posed by Iran, indicating he was a primary target.