Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Aug 12: US President Donald Trump secretly switched aircraft while leaving Turkey last month after US intelligence agencies received information about a potential Iranian surface-to-air missile threat targeting the aircraft carrying the President, according to two US officials familiar with the intelligence.

The reported security operation took place as Trump concluded his visit to the NATO summit in Ankara. The New York Times, citing the officials, reported that US agencies had received multiple streams of information indicating a specific threat involving a surface-to-air missile targeting Air Force One.

The officials said a person in the vicinity of the NATO summit had also been spotted carrying a shoulder-fired missile on July 8.

US intelligence reportedly considered the threat credible enough for Trump and senior administration officials to undertake an unusual decoy operation to ensure his safe departure from Turkey.

Trump initially boarded the older Air Force One aircraft in front of cameras. He had earlier said he planned to use the aircraft “for old time's sake”.

However, he was later moved discreetly from the larger aircraft and transferred to a smaller C-32A military jet.

According to the officials, Trump was secretly transported inside an airport catering container from the larger aircraft to the smaller jet. The operation enabled him to leave Turkey without immediately revealing that he had changed aircraft.

The movement was captured on camera, although the significance of the aircraft switch was not immediately known publicly.

Iranian operatives reportedly tracked Trump

The officials also said Iranian operatives had detailed information about Trump's whereabouts in Ankara, including the building where he was staying and the specific floor occupied by the President.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing sensitive intelligence.

The reported threat came amid heightened concerns over possible Iranian attempts to target Trump. US authorities have previously investigated alleged Iranian-backed plots against the President.

Trump was wounded by a would-be assassin during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024. Later that year, another armed man was arrested after being found near Trump's golf course in Florida. Those incidents, however, were not connected to the latest reported Iranian threat.

US authorities have also previously announced an alleged Iranian-backed murder-for-hire plot targeting Trump. A man was convicted in connection with the scheme, which US officials said involved Iranian operatives and a proxy force.

The latest intelligence prompted US officials to adopt heightened security measures during Trump's departure from Turkey. Instead of publicly announcing a change in travel arrangements, they used the larger Air Force One as part of an apparent decoy operation before moving the President onto the smaller military aircraft.