Trump says secret Turkey flight was ‘at greater risk’ amid Iran assassination threat

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the aircraft he used to leave Turkey last month was at “greater risk” than the plane he had originally arrived in, after a report revealed that he had secretly switched flights amid an Iranian assassination threat.

Trump had travelled to Turkey for a NATO summit and was expected to depart aboard the aircraft he had arrived in. However, according to The Washington Post, he instead left the country after being moved through a catering truck and boarded another military aircraft, which first flew him to Britain.

At the time, the White House had said Trump was boarding the Air Force One aircraft from Turkey. The reported change of plans came after security officials assessed a potential threat from Iran, according to the Post.

“I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk,” Reuters quoted Trump as telling reporters after the report was published. “I think it was at greater risk because that would be the plane I think that they would be more likely to go for.” Trump did not elaborate on why he believed that the aircraft was more vulnerable.

Asked why he chose to take the other plane, Trump told CBS News, “They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane — equal safety,” adding, “They wanted me to do it, so I do it. I do what they say.”

He then added, “I get a lot of threats.”

Why did Trump switch planes?

Trump had travelled to Turkey aboard a Boeing aircraft gifted to him by Qatar, which was subsequently renovated by the US government. He had been expected to use the same aircraft to leave Ankara but unexpectedly announced that he would depart on another plane.

Before he departed from the Turkish capital, Trump said on Truth Social that he would be travelling in an old baby blue Air Force One aircraft “for old time's sake”.

The White House had earlier refused to comment on the Washington Post report.

“The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff. 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,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said late on Monday in a statement.