Trump Missile Threat Sparks Secret Plane Switch in Turkiye
A credible and imminent missile threat forced the Secret Service to carry out a dramatic and secret plane switch for President Donald Trump during his recent trip to Turkiye. The danger involved a possible shoulder-fired missile attack on Air Force One and emerged on the final day of the NATO summit in Ankara last month amid rising tensions with Iran.
According to a source briefed on the matter, officials had very little time to prepare. They quickly arranged for Trump and a small group of aides to leave the large blue-and-white presidential aircraft. The group used a catering truck to move quietly to a smaller, unmarked C-32A government jet. Meanwhile, the main Air Force One took off separately with senior officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, other White House staff, and the full travelling press pool.
The source said the Secret Service viewed the threat as both real and urgent. A second person familiar with the situation noted that while hostile actors showed clear intent, there was no fully developed plan for an attack. This is why both planes were still allowed to depart. Trump later confirmed the switch happened at the direction of the Secret Service. He flew from Ankara to a refuelling stop in Britain without any problems.
Some experts believe the concern may have involved a new type of heat-seeking missile that targets aircraft engines and is harder to detect. Iranian and Russian systems capable of this kind of attack have drawn growing attention from military planners. The Washington Post first reported key details of the operation more than a month after it took place. Separate reports also indicated that Iranian sources knew the exact location of Trump’s hotel stay in Ankara, including the floor he occupied.
White House aides such as Dan Scavino, Natalie Harp, and Walt Nauta travelled with the president on the smaller jet. Critics have questioned whether the plan put journalists and officials on the decoy Air Force One at greater risk. Officials decided the secrecy was necessary to protect the president as hostilities with Iran intensified. Turkish authorities have not commented on the incident. Trump later told reporters he believed the smaller plane may have actually faced higher risk, though he offered no further details.
