Trump Breaks Silence on Secret Plane Switch and Vulnerability in Turkey

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that he secretly switched planes in Turkey last month at the direct instruction of the U.S. Secret Service. Trump also claimed that the military aircraft he ultimately used for the flight was still more vulnerable than Air Force One.The confirmation follows a Washington Post investigation revealing that U.S. intelligence detected a credible Iranian plot to target Air Force One as the president prepared to depart Ankara, Turkey, on July 8, 2026, following a NATO summit. The Secret Service executed a covert operation where Trump boarded Air Force One on camera, but was then secretly moved off the presidential jet using an airport catering truck.Trump was transferred to a smaller Air Force C-32A military aircraft flying under the call sign Reach 18. The transport aircraft operated with its location tracking systems switched off and carried no public tracking identifier as it flew to Britain completely off the radar.Meanwhile, the primary Air Force One aircraft took off from Turkey and flew its designated route to serve as a decoy. Traveling press corps journalists and several White House staff members remained aboard the decoy Air Force One. They were instructed by security officials to keep their window shades closed during the departure from Turkey, completely unaware that the president was no longer on board the aircraft.Reporters questioned Trump regarding the decision to leave staff and the press corps on the decoy plane. Trump responded to reporters by stating, "I think, actually, the plane that I flew on was at greater risk". Trump previously told reporters during the transit that the window shades were ordered down "because you're probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleazebags we have to deal with," adding that he is "number one" on Iran's list.The Committee to Protect Journalists regional director for the Americas, Jose Zamora, issued a statement declaring that the Trump administration has a responsibility to ensure journalists covering the president are not unnecessarily exposed to danger, and should be informed of credible security threats. White House communications director Steven Cheung did not directly address the aircraft switch but stated that the administration uses every tool at its disposal to address threats from foreign enemies.