Trump says his secret plane switch in Turkey put him at greater risk

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday his secret plane switch in Turkey last month left him more exposed than Air Force One, not less. The Secret Service ordered the swap after U.S. media reported an Iranian assassination threat during the NATO summit in Ankara. Trump was moved from Air Force One to a smaller jet using a catering truck.

Why did Trump switch planes in Turkey?

Trump switched planes in Turkey after the Secret Service warned of an Iranian assassination threat tied to the NATO summit in Ankara. Officials directed him to leave Air Force One and board a smaller military aircraft, using a catering truck as cover. The White House did not disclose the change until The Washington Post reported it days later.

What did Trump say about the risk?

Trump told reporters on Tuesday he believed the plane he actually flew on was more vulnerable than Air Force One. "I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk," he said. He argued it was the aircraft attackers would have been more likely to target, since it was presumed empty of the president.

Trump said the decision was not his own. "Well, it's only up to Secret Service. I just follow what they'd like to do, so I go by Secret Service and the military," he said. He added that he did not press for details on the threat itself. "I guess there was a threat out there. I didn't really ask too much about it. I get a lot of threats," Trump said.

How did the plane swap actually work?

The White House had told reporters Trump was flying from Turkey to Britain aboard Air Force One. Moments after he boarded, he left the plane in secret through a catering truck and boarded a separate aircraft for the flight, according to the Post's sources. Passengers and journalists on the original plane were not told he had left.

Social media quickly filled with memes depicting Trump hiding in the catering truck. That image sat awkwardly with a president who frequently shares memes portraying himself as bold and unshaken, prompting him to explain the switch publicly rather than let the memes stand.

Why was the newer Air Force One not used?

Trump had flown to Ankara for the NATO summit aboard a newly renovated jet donated by Qatar. He unexpectedly announced before departure that he would instead use an older Air Force One to leave the country, a decision that raised questions about the new plane's security. The switch marked the first international trip for the newer aircraft, whose rushed upgrades had already drawn scrutiny over cost and readiness.

The reversal came as tensions with Iran, which borders Turkey, were rising. That timing added weight to questions about whether the newer plane was fully prepared for high-risk travel so soon after entering service.