Trump: My planes faced 'greater danger' after secret swap in Turkey

US President Donald Trump said he secretly flew on an alternative plane in Turkey last month, following instructions from the Secret Service, but added that the plane he ultimately traveled on was more vulnerable than the presidential aircraft, Air Force One.

US media reported that Trump was transferred from Air Force One to a military plane after a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Ankara, using a food delivery truck in an unusual concealment operation triggered by an Iranian threat to assassinate him.

The White House did not disclose this change, and the matter remained secret until The Washington Post published a report on it for the first time on Monday.

Trump told journalists on Tuesday night, “I actually think the plane I rode was at greater risk... because it’s the plane I think they were most likely to target.”

The Washington Post reported on Monday that Trump was accompanied by several close aides when he was secretly transferred from Air Force One to a smaller military aircraft. It stated that Dan Scavino, Deputy Chief of Staff at the White House, Natalie Harb, Executive Assistant, and Walt Nauta, Director of Oval Office Operations, accompanied Trump in the food truck, along with several other assistants.

The newspaper added that the truck did not transport any government officials with Trump.

After images circulated on social media depicting Trump hiding in the food truck, the president, who is concerned with his public image and often promotes edited online photos portraying him as a bold and courageous leader, said he was following Secret Service instructions.

He added, “I think there was some kind of threat. I didn’t ask too much about it. I receive a lot of threats.”

At the time, the White House stated that the president would travel from Turkey to the UK aboard Air Force One. However, moments after Trump boarded the plane, he secretly exited via the food truck and boarded another plane bound for the UK, according to The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources.

The New York Times quoted two officials familiar with the matter, stating that US intelligence gathered multiple pieces of information confirming a specific threat to use a surface-to-air missile against Air Force One, and that an individual was seen near the NATO summit area carrying a shoulder-fired missile.

The information indicated that Iranians were fully aware of the president’s location in Ankara, including the floor where he was staying, according to the two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.