Trump was secretly transported after the NATO summit in Ankara in a food van and on another plane — WP
Kyiv • UNN
U.S. President Donald Trump secretly flew out of Ankara on a military C-32A, while Air Force One was used as a decoy. The reason was the threat of an assassination attempt by Iran following the resumption of strikes on that country.
U.S. President Donald Trump secretly left Turkey on another military aircraft after the NATO summit in Ankara, having been transported to it in a food-service van, due to the threat of an assassination attempt by Iran. The Washington Post writes, reports UNN.
Details
"The Iranian threat to assassinate President Donald Trump prompted an extraordinary operation last month, during which he secretly flew out of Turkey on another military aircraft, while the White House reported that he was aboard Air Force One," the publication writes.
It is reported that the secret mission was carried out without the knowledge of journalists and some White House staff members, who believed they were on the same aircraft as the president.
The U.S. president's administration claimed that Trump departed Turkey on July 8 aboard the former Air Force One. Trump announced on social media that he would use the "former" Air Force One rather than the aircraft on which he had flown there—the new Boeing 747-8 gifted to the United States by Qatar.
"The safety of the aircraft provided by Qatar was called into question, and last month, after the trip, Trump said that it would be further upgraded. In Ankara, Trump boarded the old, large Air Force One in view of television cameras. A few minutes later, he was secretly transferred to a smaller aircraft—a C-32A military plane—using an airport cargo vehicle normally used to load food and other supplies before a flight," the publication adds.
According to the official, this turned Air Force One into a "decoy," carrying members of the media and some White House staffers.
Trump was in Ankara for a NATO summit with the leaders of countries around the world. The operation took place overnight after the U.S. armed forces, at Trump's direction, resumed military strikes against Iran following the collapse of negotiations between Washington and Tehran to end the war, which had already been ongoing for several months.
The maneuver meant that Trump's actual whereabouts were concealed from the American public and many senior U.S. officials for several hours.
We remind you
The Pentagon reported that it had revoked former U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall's authorization to access classified information and barred him from holding positions requiring access to sensitive data. The reason cited was the alleged unauthorized disclosure of information about the capabilities of the presidential aircraft Air Force One.