Trump's decoy flight sparked by fears of Iranian cell with shoulder-fired missile: Official
The decision to sneak President Donald Trump out of Ankara on a separate Air Force jet last month was made about four or five hours before his scheduled departure and was driven by intelligence that an Iranian terror cell had snuck into Turkey with a shoulder-fired missile, according to a senior administration official with firsthand knowledge.
It was also believed the Iranians had information about Trump's movements in Ankara, the official said.
Before leaving Turkey after the NATO summit, Trump secretly transferred from the old Air Force One to a military aircraft via a catering container, sources told ABC News, an elaborate ruse that was carried out without the knowledge of the traveling press and even some White House officials aboard the decoy flight.
The Washington Post first reported the operation to secret Trump out of Turkey.
Only a handful of people on the old Air Force One knew what was happening, the senior administration official said.
Sources familiar with the matter told ABC News thatSecretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent were on the "decoy" Air Force One. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was on the other plane flying with the president, sources said.
All three Cabinet members were aware that Trump had secretly switched from the old Air Force One jet to the military aircraft given the threat, sources said.
Trump told reporters Tuesday night that his secret flight was the work of the Secret Service and the U.S. military.
The plane carrying Trump was escorted by F-35 fighter jets, standard protocol for Air Force One. The old Air Force One was also escorted by F-35s, something unusual for a plane not carrying the president.
Trump said at the time that he would be flying on the old Air Force One and not flying on the new Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet because he was sending it to a base in the United Kingdom so service members could tour it.
ABC News reported at the time that Trump was advised not to take the plane due to security concerns amid escalations with Iran.
Reporters on the Air Force One flight that was believed to be carrying Trump were told that the windows needed to be closed during the entire flight and that it was a mandate from the Secret Service. Air Force One, despite the president not being on board, according to the Post, had its transponder turned off.
In a statement to ABC News regarding the Post's reporting, the White House said, "As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats."
What did Trump think of all the subterfuge?
"He loved it," the senior administration official said.
