Trump Moved Off Air Force One Amid Iranian Missile Threat
President's plane reportedly used as decoy after Nato summit, raising questions about passenger safety and transparency.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Carla Rooney
President Donald Trump was reportedly moved from Air Force One to a military jet following the Nato summit in Turkey.
Former Secret Service agents routinely employ decoy tactics to protect presidents; President Bill Clinton reportedly used a similar maneuver in 2000 for travel to Pakistan.
Tensions escalated significantly following the US-ordered missile strike in January 2020, which killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leader Qasem Soleimani.
In July 2024, US law enforcement arrested Asif Merchant, who allegedly had ties to the IRGC, for plotting to kill Donald Trump.
Separately, another assassination scheme against Donald Trump, allegedly directed by an IRGC official, led to charges against Afghani citizen Farhad Shakeri in October 2024.
A banner reading "#KillTrump" reportedly appeared at the funeral service for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A building in Tehran featured a mural of the American president in a black coffin, with the words "We will kill Trump" and "Blood for blood" written below it.
Donald Trump himself stated, "I guess there was a threat out there. I didn't really ask too much about it. I get a lot of threats."
Because you’re probably on a dangerous flight.
The Washington Post claims an Iranian assassination threat led to President Donald Trump being sneaked off Air Force One in a catering container and flown to the U.K. in a military jet.
Journalists who boarded Air Force One in Ankara, Turkey, received instructions to lower the plane's window shades. Donald Trump later told them, “Because you’re probably on a dangerous flight.”
Ned Price claims that misleading reporters and continuing to lie to the American people is unacceptable and unique to this White House.
Tommy Vietor claims the incident “makes Trump look like both a liar and a scared little bitch.” He adds that the mental image of Donald Trump hiding from Iran in a catering cart is devastating.
S.V. Dáte claims those aboard Air Force One were “considered expendable.” He states, “Donald Trump was ready to let you die while he secretly made his escape.”
Richard Blumenthal demanded accountability, stating, "I want to know what precautions were taken to make sure that all of the passengers on that Air Force One, which was judged too dangerous for the president to fly on, what precautions were taken to keep the staff and reporters on that plane safe."
Democrats have called for a congressional briefing regarding the incident.