US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (11/8) acknowledged he secretly switched planes while preparing to leave the NATO summit in Turkey last month on the instruction of the US Secret Service. Trump told reporters that despite changing planes for his security, the aircraft he ultimately used remained more vulnerable compared to Air Force One.
"I think actually the plane I was on has greater risk," Trump told reporters. "I think that's probably the one they were more likely to go after," he added.
After attending the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump was transferred from Air Force One to a military aircraft via a catering truck in an unusual deception operation. US media reported that the plane switch was triggered by threats from Iran, as Washington and Tehran were in a period of high tension at the time. The White House did not disclose the switch until The Washington Post first reported it on Monday.
Trump said he was simply following the advice of the Secret Service, the agency responsible for protecting the president. "Yes, that's entirely up to the Secret Service. I just follow what they want me to do, so I followed Secret Service and military guidance," Trump said as quoted by Reuters. "I think there was a threat. I didn't ask too many questions about it. I receive a lot of threats," he said.
Trump had previously used the new Air Force One, a gift from Qatar that had been renovated, to fly to Ankara. However, he suddenly announced he would use the older Air Force One when leaving Turkey, raising questions about the security of the new aircraft. The trip to NATO was the new aircraft's first international flight, and the rapid renovation process has raised questions about its cost and safety.
