U.S. President Donald Trump secretly left Turkey aboard a smaller military aircraft following the NATO summit in July, amid security concerns reportedly linked to threats from Iran, The Washington Post has reported.
According to the newspaper, Trump departed Turkey on July 8 after the NATO summit, using a C-32A aircraft rather than the presidential aircraft that had initially been expected to carry him.
The Washington Post, citing a U.S. government official, reported that Trump initially boarded the presidential aircraft but was then secretly transferred to the smaller military plane through an aircraft catering vehicle.
The vehicle, normally used to transport and load food at airports, was reportedly used to move Trump from the presidential aircraft without attracting attention.
Trump then flew to the United Kingdom aboard the smaller military aircraft, according to the report.
The newspaper said some journalists and government officials who remained aboard the presidential aircraft continued to believe that Trump would travel on that plane.
The unusual operation was reportedly driven by security concerns following threats attributed to the Iranian government. The report suggests that keeping Trump’s actual aircraft and departure arrangements concealed was intended to reduce potential security risks.
The details are notable because presidential movements are normally subject to extensive security planning and coordination, while the reported aircraft switch appears to have been deliberately concealed even from some people traveling with the presidential delegation.
However, the material available to NIMRUZ TV does not include the full concluding section of The Washington Post report, leaving some details about the security operation and the U.S. government’s broader response unclear.
NIMRUZ TV therefore attributes the claim of a direct security threat involving Iran to The Washington Post and the U.S. official cited by the newspaper. The report itself does not establish independently that Iran planned or attempted an attack against Trump.
