Trump Breaks Silence on Security Threat Behind Plane Switch in Turkey

US President Donald Trump has addressed the security threat that prompted the US Secret Service to secretly switch his plane while he was in Turkey for the NATO summit last month.

Speaking to some journalists, Trump said he followed instructions from the Secret Service and the military after being advised to board a different aircraft, adding that he did not ask many questions about the threat.

“I get a lot of threats. I have a lot of threats that you don’t know about,” Trump said.

He added that he generally does not worry about such threats and simply follows the directions of his security team.

“I don’t worry about anything, to be honest… You know my attitude: whatever.”

Trump Says Military Plane Was at Greater Risk

Trump also addressed questions over whether the aircraft he eventually boarded was safer than Air Force One.

He said he believed the military aircraft was actually more vulnerable because it could have been identified as the plane carrying him.

In addition, the US president explained that the aircraft he boarded would likely have been a more obvious target if those behind the threat were trying to locate him.

Although he was not briefed, the US president noted that he said he was told to use a different flight and complied with the security team’s instructions

“They wanted me to go in a different flight, different plane. I just have to do what they say.”

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Trump Says He Was Not Fully Briefed on Threat

The president’s comments came after reports revealed that he had boarded Air Force One on July 8 in view of television cameras before being moved to a military aircraft.

Trump was transferred from Air Force One to a military aircraft after the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, in a security operation that reportedly involved the use of a catering truck.

However, the switch was not publicly disclosed at the time and remained secret until reports emerged earlier this week.

Also Read: Trump Reportedly Hid in Catering Container During Secret Flight Amid Assassination Threat from Iran

According to reports, the operation was prompted by an Iranian assassination threat against Trump.

Meanwhile, the unusual operation has since attracted significant attention, including social media discussion and memes about the president being transported in a catering truck.

Trump, however, maintained that the decision was made by the security personnel responsible for protecting him and that he simply followed their instructions.

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A photo of US President Donald Trump as he steps off Air Force One to board the new Qatari-gifted Boeing plane, en route to the US, at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, in Milidenhall, England on July 8. PHOTO/ Win McNamee, Getty Images