US intelligence reportedly detected a specific threat against Donald Trump as he prepared to leave Ankara during the NATO summit, prompting an extraordinary security operation to move him out of Turkey.
According to a New York Times report citing two US officials familiar with the intelligence, American agencies received multiple pieces of information indicating a possible Iranian surface-to-air missile threat against the aircraft carrying Trump.
The intelligence reportedly suggested that Iranian operatives also knew where Trump was staying in Ankara, including the floor of the building where he was housed. A separate report indicated that someone near the summit site had been seen carrying a shoulder-fired missile.
Trump’s Secret Plane Switch
The warning led US security officials to launch a deception operation. Trump publicly boarded an older Air Force One aircraft in front of cameras, giving the impression that he would leave Turkey on that plane.
Instead, a decoy aircraft carrying White House personnel, support staff and journalists took off while Trump was secretly moved through the airport inside a catering vehicle. He was then transferred to a smaller military aircraft and flown out of Turkey.
The unusual operation later angered some members of the travelling press pool, who said they had unknowingly been used as part of the deception.
Qatar Jet Was Also a Concern
Trump had arrived in Turkey aboard a luxury Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, which was being prepared for potential future presidential use. However, the aircraft reportedly lacked the same missile-defence systems installed on the older Air Force One.
That difference was reportedly among the factors behind the decision to move Trump to another aircraft for his departure.
Trump Plays Down Threat
Trump later said he had not been particularly concerned about the reported threat.
“They wanted me to go on a different flight, different plane,” Trump told reporters. “I guess there was a threat out there. I didn’t really ask too much about it. I get a lot of threats.”
The reported intelligence has nevertheless raised fresh questions about the security of the US president and the extent of Iranian intelligence capabilities during the NATO summit.