2 weeks ago

Past secret presidential war-zone trips after Trump's Turkey ruse

Presidents sometimes have to travel to dangerous places, and they usually keep those trips a secret.

President Donald Trump left a plane while he was leaving Turkey on July 8.

He switched to a smaller plane using a catering truck so no one would notice.

A small group of officials knew about it, but other people on the first plane did not.

The first plane was a decoy because there was a threat of a missile attack.

In the past, other presidents made secret trips too.

In 2003, President George W. Bush secretly went to Baghdad for Thanksgiving dinner with troops.

President Bill Clinton switched planes on a trip from India to Pakistan in 2000.

President Barack Obama surprised troops in Afghanistan on Memorial Day in 2014.

These trips are done for safety and to thank soldiers.

Key facts

Event: Secret presidential trips to war zones and high-risk areas
Most recent trip: Donald Trump switched planes leaving Turkey on July 8
Threat level: Air Force One decoy under threat of missile attack
Security protocol: Staff and press pool told in advance, sworn to secrecy, allowed to opt out
2003: George W. Bush secretly visited troops in Baghdad for Thanksgiving
2000: Bill Clinton flew from Mumbai to Islamabad on an unmarked jet
2014: Barack Obama surprised 3,000 troops at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan
2018: Trump and Melania made surprise Christmas visit to U.S. troops in Iraq

theprint.in · 2 weeks ago