SAEDNEWS: A U.S. media outlet has revealed an unprecedented security operation that took place last month. Following a threat attributed to Iran, Donald Trump made a staged appearance boarding Air Force One in front of cameras before being secretly transferred to another aircraft in an airport food-service truck and flown out of Turkey.
According to Saednews report by The Washington Post, a threat allegedly linked to Iran against U.S. President Donald Trump prompted an unprecedented security operation several weeks ago, during which Trump secretly left Turkey aboard a different military aircraft, while the White House publicly indicated that he was traveling on Air Force One.
The Washington Post, citing a U.S. official familiar with the operation and another person who knew details of Trump’s trip, reported that the covert mission was carried out without the knowledge of reporters and even some White House staff. They reportedly believed they were traveling on the same aircraft as Trump.
According to the report, the U.S. government had previously announced that Trump left Turkey on July 8 aboard the older Air Force One. Trump had also said on social media that he would use the “former Air Force One” rather than the new Boeing 747-8 that Qatar had given to the United States.
The Washington Post reported that Trump boarded the older Air Force One in Ankara in front of television cameras. However, only minutes later, he was secretly transferred to a smaller Air Force aircraft, a C-32A, using an airport catering truck.
According to the U.S. official cited by the newspaper, the older Air Force One served as a decoy. Reporters and several White House staff members remained aboard it while Trump traveled on the other aircraft.
The Washington Post reported that the operation took place one night after U.S. forces, acting on Trump’s orders, resumed military strikes against Iran following the collapse of negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the months-long war.
As a result of the operation, Trump’s actual location remained hidden from the American public and even from some senior U.S. officials for several hours.
The newspaper added that a “serious threat” against Trump, attributed to Iran, had prompted the deception operation.
The newspaper also noted that The New York Times and CBS News had previously reported that intelligence officials had warned of a specific threat to attack Trump or his aircraft.
According to the Washington Post, after boarding the older Air Force One, Trump and several of his aides entered a specialized aircraft catering truck to prevent people outside the security operation from realizing that he was leaving.
The truck was equipped with a hydraulic system that allowed it to rise to the level of the aircraft door.
Images from the airport showed a staircase positioned on one side of the aircraft and the catering truck on the other.
After moving away from the older Air Force One, the truck drove toward the C-32A. The Washington Post reported that video footage showed the truck’s cargo compartment being raised to the level of the second aircraft for several minutes.
The C-32A, a modified version of the Boeing 757, is used to transport senior U.S. government officials and can also carry the president or vice president.
According to the report, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth boarded the same aircraft separately using the external stairs, helping make the flight appear routine. He later traveled with Trump to the United Kingdom.
At the same time that reporters were boarding the older Air Force One, White House staff instructed them to lower the window shades.
The Washington Post reported that the aircraft actually carrying Trump did not use the standard “Air Force One” call sign during its flight to Britain. Instead, it operated under the identifier “Reach 18,” or “RCH18.”
According to the report, tracking systems that would have made the aircraft easier to follow in the sky were also turned off.
Meanwhile, the Qatari aircraft, operating under the call sign “SAM 33,” flew to RAF Mildenhall in Britain. The older Air Force One carrying reporters and White House staff, despite the president not being aboard, was assigned the “AF1” call sign during part of the journey—the designation normally reserved for an aircraft carrying the U.S. president.
Flight data indicated that the older Air Force One landed at Mildenhall at approximately 10:29 p.m. local time. The C-32A carrying Trump reportedly arrived at the base at around 10:20 p.m., according to published images.
The Washington Post said it was unclear how Trump was transferred from the C-32A after landing. However, at approximately 10:56 p.m., he appeared in front of cameras and descended the external stairs of the older Air Force One.
After meeting with U.S. troops, Trump boarded the new aircraft gifted to the United States by Qatar at around 11:01 p.m. He then returned to Washington accompanied by staff members and reporters.
Despite the covert operation, the White House posted on social media that same night that Trump had arrived at the British base aboard the “former Air Force One” and released a photograph of that aircraft.
