President Trump confirmed a secret plane swap occurred during a NATO summit to avoid a potential Iranian assassination threat.
President Trump confirmed that he secretly swapped planes during a NATO summit in Turkiye last month to avoid a security threat. The administration announced that the switch occurred on July 8, while President Trump noted that the plane he ultimately flew on was actually at a lesser risk than the decoy aircraft. The move involved President Trump moving between aircraft in a catering truck in Ankara. While the White House remained silent at this time, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the administration for a lack of transparency, accusing the administration of prioritizing luxury over security. Iranian state media outlets have reacted to the news, with some mocking the secret departure. The official IRNA news agency reported that President Trump admitted to fleeing for fear of Iran, while other outlets described the escape as a cowardly move, highlighting that journalists and aides remained on the decoy plane while President Trump moved to the safety of the military aircraft.