US President Donald Trump has officially confirmed reports from American media outlets that during his return from the NATO summit in Ankara (Turkey) in July 2026, a secret operation was conducted to transfer the head of state to a different aircraft. In a comment to journalists, Trump emphasized that the decision was made solely on the recommendation of the Secret Service and the military, and his personal role was limited to unconditional compliance with security protocols.
'I Obey the Secret Service'
In his statement, Donald Trump commented on information that had previously caused a wide resonance in the press. 'I obey the Secret Service and the military. They wanted me to fly on a different flight, a different plane. I just need to do what they say,' the president stated. He emphasized that the safety of the head of state is a priority, and any changes to the route or transport are made based on an operational threat assessment by intelligence agencies.
Special Operation Using a 'Decoy'
Details of the operation, revealed by The Washington Post and The New York Times on August 11, indicate a high level of preparation by intelligence agencies. According to journalists, Trump secretly transferred from the official presidential aircraft, Air Force One, to a backup plane using a van typically used for food delivery. The old Air Force One was effectively used as a decoy for journalists and some administration staff to conceal the president's actual location.
Threat from Iran and Conflict Context
The special operation was carried out against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions. According to the publications, the main reason for changing planes was the need to prevent a possible assassination attempt on the president by Iran. This is supported by the context: after the start of the US and Israeli military operation against Iran on February 28, 2026, the White House chief repeatedly stated that his life was in danger. Trump claimed that Iranian authorities had twice attempted to organize an assassination against him, but both attempts were futile. As early as July 11, he stated that he had left instructions in case of a possible assassination, according to which the country would be subjected to strikes of unprecedented force.
Contradictory Data
While the president confirmed the fact of changing planes and complying with the Secret Service's decision, there are discrepancies in the details between Trump's official comment and the data from journalistic investigations. While the media (NYT and WaPo) described in detail the use of a food delivery van and the 'decoy' tactic with the main aircraft left on the tarmac, Trump's own comment lacks these technical details. He limited himself to a general statement that the military and intelligence agencies 'wanted him to fly on a different flight.' This creates room for interpretation: either the president intentionally did not reveal the details of the operation for security reasons, or journalistic sources exaggerated the scale and complexity of the logistical operation.
