Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Secret Service Chief Regrets Publicity Over Trump Plane Switch
When President Donald Trump left Turkey, he first appeared to board Air Force One.
He then secretly moved to a smaller government plane.
The Secret Service said the change was made for safety.
Trump later said officials had directed him to take the other plane because of a threat.
The Washington Post reported that the threat came from Iran.
Trump said he did not know much about the specific threat.
Sean Curran, who leads the Secret Service, said he wished the switch had not been reported.
He said publicity could make it harder to use the same trick again.
President Donald Trump secretly switched from Air Force One to a smaller Air Force C-32A while departing Ankara on July 8.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran said public reporting could make it harder to use similar tactics again.
Trump confirmed the switch on Aug. 11, saying security officials directed him to use another aircraft because of a threat.
The Washington Post reported that the maneuver was prompted by an Iranian assassination threat; Trump said he had not asked much about the threat.
Curran said similar deception had been used before but did not specify when or in what circumstances.
- Who
- President Donald Trump and Secret Service Director Sean Curran.
- What
- Trump secretly switched from Air Force One to a smaller aircraft, and Curran said publicity about the maneuver could compromise its future use.
- When
- The plane switch occurred July 8; Trump confirmed it on Aug. 11. The article does not specify the years.
- Where
- Ankara, Turkey, after a North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit.
- Why
- Trump said security officials directed him to use another plane because of a threat; The Washington Post reported an Iranian assassination threat.
Security rationale
Publicity concerns
Whether to disclose the aircraft switch
Security rationale
Trump said officials directed him to use another aircraft because of a security threat.
Publicity concerns
Curran said he wished the maneuver had not been reported because disclosure could make similar tactics harder to use again.
- Aircraft Trump boarded publicly
- Air Force One
- Aircraft used for the flight
- A smaller Air Force C-32A
- Departure date
- July 8
- Departure location
- Ankara, Turkey
- Secret Service director
- Sean Curran
- Threat reported by The Washington Post
- An Iranian assassination threat against Trump