Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Trump Secretly Moved From Ankara After Credible Missile Threat
Donald Trump is the leader of the United States.
He traveled to Ankara, a big city in Turkey, to meet other world leaders at a meeting called a NATO summit.
While he was there, American spies learned that people from Iran might try to shoot down his famous airplane, Air Force One, with a missile.
The spies also found out that these people knew exactly where Trump was staying, even which floor of his hotel he was on.
The Secret Service, the people whose job is to protect the president, decided to play a trick to keep him safe.
Trump got on an older airplane in front of cameras so everyone would think he was leaving on it.
But then he secretly got off and went through a catering container to a different, smaller military plane that flew him to Britain.
Trump said the Secret Service and the military told him to switch planes, and he thought the plane he really flew on might have been in even more danger.
The airplane that looked like it was carrying the president took off with other important people and reporters on board, and some people later wondered if that put them in danger too.
US intelligence detected a credible surface-to-air missile threat against Air Force One, and someone near the NATO summit was reportedly spotted with a shoulder-fired missile.
The New York Times, citing two US officials, reported that Iranian operatives knew Trump's exact Ankara location, including the floor where he stayed.
Trump boarded an older Air Force One in front of cameras, then secretly transferred through an airport catering container to a smaller C-32A military jet.
The decoy Air Force One departed carrying senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, as well as journalists.
Trump confirmed the Secret Service and military ordered the switch and suggested the aircraft he actually used may have been at greater risk.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump, the Secret Service, US intelligence officials, and Iranian operatives who reportedly knew his location
- What
- Trump was secretly moved from Air Force One to a smaller C-32A military jet after US intelligence detected a credible surface-to-air missile threat against the presidential aircraft
- When
- July 8, the final day of the NATO summit in Ankara
- Where
- Ankara, the capital of Turkey; Trump's flight continued to Britain with a refuelling stop
- Why
- Iranian operatives reportedly had Trump's exact location, including his floor, and officials deemed a surface-to-air missile threat against Air Force One credible amid rising US-Iran tensions
Security Officials' View
Critics' Concerns
Secret plane switch and decoy
Security Officials' View
Officials concluded that concealing Trump's actual movements was the safest option as tensions with Iran intensified, and defenders argued that safeguarding the commander-in-chief justified extraordinary measures in the face of a credible threat.
Critics' Concerns
Critics, including some former White House officials, said passengers on the decoy aircraft should have been protected or notified, and questioned whether the operation redirected the risk onto aides, security personnel and journalists aboard Air Force One.
Risk to the aircraft Trump used
Security Officials' View
The Secret Service and military ordered Trump to board a different aircraft to move him away from the detected threat, and Trump said he was simply following their instructions.
Critics' Concerns
Trump claimed the aircraft he actually flew on may have been at greater risk, and the operation raised questions about the security of the newly renovated Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar.
- Subject
- Donald Trump
- Event
- NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey
- Incident date
- July 8, final day of the summit
- Threat
- Credible surface-to-air missile threat against Air Force One
- Intelligence
- Iranian operatives reportedly knew Trump's location, including his hotel floor
- Response
- Secret transfer to a smaller C-32A jet via an airport catering container
- Decoy aircraft
- Older Air Force One carrying senior officials, staff and journalists
- Sources
- The New York Times, Reuters and The Washington Post
Sources
Iran Had Trump’s Exact Ankara Location; Air Force One Faced Credible Missile Threat: Report
Iran had detailed intel on Trump’s Ankara stay, including his floor: Report
Iran knew Trump's exact location in Ankara: Report
