A particularly discreet security operation was organized around Donald Trump following the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on July 8. Faced with an assassination threat attributed to Iran and deemed sufficiently serious by US intelligence services, the President of the United States did not leave the country as had been publicly reported. Donald Trump was in fact discreetly removed from his presidential plane, transported in a catering vehicle used at airports, and then taken to another military aircraft. Meanwhile, Air Force One served as a decoy.
Donald Trump whisked away from prying eyes
The operation had been meticulously planned to conceal the true movements of the American president. After the NATO summit held in Ankara on July 7 and 8, Donald Trump appeared to be following the scheduled itinerary and boarding the presidential aircraft. But once out of sight, the American president was transferred to a vehicle used for airport catering. This type of truck, equipped with a compartment for transporting meals to the aircraft, allowed Donald Trump to be moved discreetly across the tarmac. He then boarded a C-32A of the US Air Force, a smaller military aircraft derived from the Boeing 757 and regularly used to transport high-ranking American officials. Several aides accompanied him.
Air Force One used as a decoy
The former Air Force One simultaneously took off from Ankara carrying journalists and White House staff. Some of them were unaware that Donald Trump was not traveling with them. The journalists on board were instructed to keep the window shades closed. This measure can be implemented during sensitive travel to prevent passengers from observing certain operations or movements around the aircraft. The goal was to maintain the appearance of a typical presidential trip and to give the impression that Donald Trump was still aboard Air Force One.
An assassination threat attributed to Iran
This exceptional operation was decided upon due to intelligence indicating an Iranian threat against Donald Trump. US officials possessed sufficiently concerning information to secretly alter the conditions of the presidential trip. Security around Donald Trump is particularly tight due to tensions between Washington and Tehran. The United States has conducted strikes against Iran this year, while US authorities have been monitoring Iranian threats against Donald Trump and former officials in his administration for several years. The White House confirmed that significant security measures had been taken to protect the president, without providing details of the full operational plan.
A secret passage through the United Kingdom
The C-32A actually carrying Donald Trump departed Ankara for the United Kingdom. The aircraft landed at RAF Mildenhall, a British base used by US forces. Air Force One, which served as a decoy, also arrived in the UK. Donald Trump then rejoined the presidential entourage so that the rest of the journey would again appear to be a normal trip. This operation was only publicly revealed a month later. It demonstrates the extent of the precautions taken by US intelligence services in response to reports of a direct threat to the life of the President of the United States.
