Video footage appears to show President Trump secretly boarding a military jet using an airport catering truck after a NATO summit in Turkey last month. The maneuver occurred as journalists and some White House staff remained unaware on Air Force One.
The video shows a catering truck with its bed raised positioned alongside Air Force One as Trump boarded the presidential aircraft in Ankara on July 8. Shortly after, as the White House press pool boarded Air Force One, the catering truck, with its bed lowered, backed away and proceeded to a nearby military C-32A plane. The Washington Post reported that this military jet then transported Trump to the United Kingdom.
The White House has not denied the account, which cited two sources, including at least one U.S. official. Initially, the publicly stated plan was for Trump to depart Turkey on the older version of Air Force One. However, he had announced earlier that day he would be sending his newly donated jet from Qatar ahead to RAF Mildenhall, so U.S. forces stationed there could tour it before he used it to return to Washington.
It remains unclear which other officials accompanied Trump in the catering truck. He is typically accompanied by a doctor and staff members responsible for maintaining contact with the military and the White House chief of staff's office.
After the press pool boarded Air Force One, Secret Service agents requested that window shades remain closed. One photographer who opened their shade was reportedly instructed to close it again.
This method of travel drew comparisons to a similar incident in 2000 when then-President Bill Clinton used Air Force One as a decoy during a trip to Pakistan. However, Clinton did not reportedly deceive reporters on board the decoy aircraft.
The decision to use the older Air Force One as a decoy is believed to stem from the newer jet's lack of advanced security features, such as missile-deflection technology present on the senior presidential aircraft.
When asked at a news conference in Ankara whether he was foregoing the new plane due to threats from Iran, Trump stated he was "number one on the kill list" for the Islamic Republic but did not provide further details. Addressing the publicly stated plane swap, he insisted he sent the Qatari jet ahead "so the soldiers can see it, because it's truly magnificent."