Trump was secretly transferred to another plane in Ankara due to the threat of a MANPADS attack, according to CNN
Following the NATO summit in Ankara, U.S. President Donald Trump was secretly transferred to another plane due to information about a possible attempt to shoot down the presidential aircraft using a man-portable air defense system (MANPADS).
News of a possible assassination attempt on Trump emerged on the final day of the NATO summit in Ankara.
Security services received information about a plan to shoot down the presidential plane using a MANPADS.
According to CNN, the information was “specific enough” for officials to decide that it would be too dangerous for Trump to leave Turkey on any of the official presidential aircraft—whether the older plane or the newer one provided by Qatar.
A separate cause for concern was that Iran likely knew the details of the U.S. delegation’s movements during its stay in Turkey.
Along with Trump, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hagset and three of his aides boarded the third plane.
Among them were:
- Natalie Harp;
- Deputy White House Chief of Staff Dan Scavino;
- Oval Office Chief of Operations Walt Nout, who frequently accompanies the president on foreign trips.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller remained on Air Force One.
News of the U.S. president’s secret evacuation broke on August 11. At that time, media outlets reported that Trump had left Turkey on a different plane after transferring from Air Force One.
According to journalists, a van typically used for food delivery was used for this purpose, allowing the president to be discreetly transferred to another aircraft.
It was previously reported that the special operation was carried out due to fears of a possible assassination attempt on Trump by Iran.
CNN reported this.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that after the NATO summit in Turkey, he was secretly transferred from Air Force One to another military aircraft. According to the American leader, the decision was made due to a threat from Iran.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remained aboard the decoy plane in Turkey after President Donald Trump secretly left it and boarded another military aircraft. This was reported by BBC News, citing CBS News.
