Trump secretly switched planes after alleged Iran threat

WASHINGTON -  U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that after last month’s NATO summit in Ankara, the Secret Service secretly moved him to a different aircraft because of a possible missile threat linked to Iran.

According to U.S. media and the BBC, a person carrying what appeared to be a shoulder-fired missile launcher had been spotted near Air Force One. Trump was reportedly transported in a catering vehicle to another military aircraft, while Air Force One continued its flight carrying members of his staff, journalists and, according to reports, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Trump later said the military aircraft may actually have been more vulnerable than Air Force One. He said he did not ask many questions about the threat and simply followed the Secret Service’s instructions.

In the United Kingdom, Trump was transferred back to Air Force One and exited from the front of the aircraft, creating the impression that he had been aboard throughout the journey.

The secret aircraft switch only became public after The Washington Post reported it. Trump said threats against him occur frequently and that the public is often never told about them.