Donald Trump has acknowledged he quietly changed aircraft amid a threat to his life, after the Washington Post reported that the US president was moved off Air Force One and onto another plane using a catering truck as cover.
“They wanted me to go in a different flight, a different plane – equal safety, but they wanted me to do it, so I do it,” Mr Trump told reporters, adding “I do what they say”.
“I guess there was a threat out there. I didn’t really ask too much about it,” he said.
The newspaper reported Monday that the clandestine move took Mr Trump off Air Force One before departure, while journalists and senior aides stayed behind on the aircraft despite what was described as an apparent risk of an Iranian strike.
President Trump covertly exited the presidential plane while it was on the ground in Turkey on 8 July.
Some travelling media later voiced anger that they had unknowingly acted as decoys, while others criticized what they described as deception and a lack of clear communication from the White House.
Donald Trump said: ‘I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk’
Mr Trump had been seen boarding the presidential jet in front of cameras, with AFP images showing two supply containers positioned at the front and rear of the aircraft.
According to the report, he then left the plane and climbed into one of the cargo containers, using it to reach a smaller US Air Force aircraft parked nearby.
“I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk,” Mr Trump told reporters.
“Because that would be the plane I think that – that they would be more likely to go for,” he said.
Roughly a dozen journalists, travelling in a separate section of Air Force One without access to the president, did not know about the switch and departed Turkey on the plane even as the threat from Iran loomed, which is at war with the United States.
“Any consequential president has a lot of threats,” Mr Trump said, brushing off concerns.
“I don’t worry about anything, to be honest. Whatever it is, you know my attitude: Whatever,” he said.
The Wall Street Journal reported Israel had briefed the US on the possibility of a shoulder-to-air missile strike on Air Force One, and said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was among the senior officials and staff who remained onboard.
At a stopover in Britain, he returned to the Qatar-gifted plane for the flight to Washington
Pool reports filed from the travelling media noted that the Secret Service ordered window shades lowered during takeoff — an uncommon directive outside combat zones.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer yesterday called for Congress to be briefed “on the Iranian threats against the president, the extraordinary measures taken to get him out of Turkey”.
Mr Trump’s trip to the NATO summit had already drawn scrutiny because he arrived on a luxury Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar and retrofitted for presidential travel.
However, it was reportedly not equipped with anti-missile defense systems, prompting the older Air Force One to be used.
At the time, Mr Trump said the newer plane was being sent ahead so US troops in Britain could tour it as a treat.
At a stopover in Britain, he returned to the Qatar-gifted plane for the flight to Washington.
Asked then why journalists had been instructed to lower the window blinds, he said: “Because you’re probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleaze bags that we have to deal with.”
“If I go, you go. Right?” Mr Trump told reporters.
Presidential travel has seen similar security tactics before: In 2000, Bill Clinton switched planes at the last minute while traveling from India to Pakistan, deploying a decoy aircraft carrying Secret Service agents.
Joe Biden’s 2023 visit to Ukraine was likewise conducted under tight secrecy during an extended trip by plane and train, though he was accompanied by a reporter and photographer.
