Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Trump secretly left Air Force One amid Iran assassination threat
The president of the United States, Donald Trump, went to a big meeting called a NATO summit in Turkey.
American spies learned that people from Iran wanted to hurt him and knew exactly where he was staying.
That news was so serious that the Secret Service, whose job is to keep presidents safe, made a secret getaway plan.
Trump told everyone he would fly home on an older plane, and reporters saw him get on it.
But secretly, he was taken off that plane and driven in a catering truck to a smaller military jet.
The big plane flew away without him, carrying other people, so anyone watching would think he was still on board.
A person was even seen near the summit with a missile that can shoot down planes.
The plan worked, and Trump got to safety.
This happened because the United States and Iran are not friendly and have had problems for a long time.
US intelligence indicated Iranian operatives posed a credible, imminent threat to President Trump during his NATO summit visit to Ankara, reportedly knowing where he was staying, including the floor.
On July 8, the Secret Service secretly moved Trump off Air Force One using an airport catering truck to transfer him to a smaller C-32A military jet.
The original Air Force One flew on as a decoy carrying senior administration officials, White House staff, and journalists, who were not told Trump had left.
Officials learned that someone near the NATO summit had been seen with a shoulder-fired missile, raising concerns about a possible heat-seeking missile attack.
The operation unfolded against longstanding US-Iran tensions, including Iranian threats after the 2020 US killing of Qassem Soleimani and a prosecuted murder-for-hire plot.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump, targeted according to US intelligence by Iranian operatives
- What
- A secret Secret Service operation moved Trump off Air Force One in Ankara and used the original aircraft as a decoy
- When
- July 8, the final day of Trump's NATO summit visit to Turkey
- Where
- Ankara, Turkey, during the NATO summit
- Why
- US intelligence indicated a credible and imminent threat from Iranian operatives who reportedly knew Trump's exact location
- Security operation date
- July 8
- Location
- Ankara, Turkey, during NATO summit
- Reported threat source
- Iranian operatives, per US intelligence
- Intelligence detail
- Iran reportedly knew Trump's hotel and floor in Ankara
- Evacuation method
- Secret move via airport catering truck to a C-32A military jet
- Decoy aircraft
- Original Air Force One departed with senior officials, staff and journalists
- Missile report
- Someone near the NATO summit seen with a shoulder-fired missile
- Background tensions
- Iranian threats since the 2020 US killing of Qassem Soleimani; alleged murder-for-hire plot prosecuted in US