President Donald Trump Confirms Secret Plane Switch in Türkiye Amid Fears of a Possible Iranian Attack
Ankara | August 12, 2026 | The Global Journal
Amid fears of a possible Iranian attack, U.S. President Donald Trump was secretly transferred to another military aircraft after leaving a NATO summit in Türkiye last month, according to U.S. media reports. Trump himself confirmed the move on Tuesday, saying that he switched planes on the instructions of the Secret Service and the U.S. military.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “I go by Secret Service and the military. They wanted me to go on a different flight, different plane. I just have to do what they say.” He added, “I get a lot of threats.”
According to U.S. media reports, on July 8, Trump was seen boarding Air Force One in front of television cameras. He was then secretly transported in a catering truck to a smaller military aircraft, a C-32A, waiting in Ankara.
Journalists and several White House officials aboard Air Force One were reportedly unaware that the president had left the aircraft. They believed Trump was still traveling on the plane.
Trump later claimed that the alternative aircraft he boarded may actually have been at greater risk. He said, “I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk because that would be the plane I think that they would be more likely to go for.”
Credible Iranian Threat
U.S. officials told CBS News that Washington had detected a credible Iranian threat at the time, including the possibility of a missile attack targeting Trump's aircraft.
Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence had information that a person near the NATO summit area had been seen with a shoulder-fired missile.
However, the full details of the intelligence and the precise nature of the threat have not been publicly disclosed.
The White House did not publicly reveal Trump's secret transfer to another aircraft at the time. The Washington Post later reported the incident.
The White House has said that the Secret Service and U.S. military routinely take various security measures as necessary to protect the president.
Schumer Demands Briefing for Congress
Following the disclosure, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on the White House to immediately provide Congress with a detailed briefing on the incident.
Schumer said, “It is unacceptable that Congress was kept in the dark and instead learned about this serious threat through press reports.”
He also accused the administration of failing to provide sufficient transparency to Congress and the American public regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The revelation comes as growing military tensions between the United States and Iran and concerns over potential retaliation have added to the security challenges surrounding the U.S. president. However, the full details of the threat that prompted Trump's transfer in Türkiye and the security operation itself have yet to be disclosed.
Sources: The Washington Post, The New York Times
