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

An Iranian assassination threat reportedly prompted United States President Donald Trump to secretly change planes in Türkiye last month. The operation kept his location hidden as he travelled to Britain on a smaller military aircraft.

Trump attended a NATO summit in Ankara before the secret operation on July 8, 2026.

Meanwhile, he had publicly said he would leave Türkiye aboard the older Air Force One, but officials instead moved him to a smaller Air Force C-32A, according to The Washington Post and The New York Times.

First, Trump boarded the older Air Force One in front of television cameras then shortly afterwards, he and several aides reportedly entered an airport catering truck, which officials then drove to the C-32A parked nearby.

A US official told The Washington Post that a credible threat involving Iran triggered the operation.

As a result, journalists and some White House staff travelling on the older Air Force One did not know that Trump had left the aircraft.

Trump Uses Older Air Force One Used To Mislead People

Trump had earlier said he would use the older Boeing 747 “for old time’s sake” instead of the newer Boeing 747-8 gifted to the United States by Qatar.

However, the security threat reportedly changed those plans as the newer aircraft had carried Trump to Türkiye for the NATO summit, but Trump travelled back separately on the C-32A.

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Meanwhile, the older Air Force One continued its journey with journalists and some White House staff aboard.

Officials reportedly told journalists to keep their window shades closed, while some White House staff also believed Trump remained on the plane.

Trump Secretly Flew To Britain

The C-32A carrying Trump flew to Britain and arrived at RAF Mildenhall at about 10:20 p.m. local time on July 8. Minutes later, the older Air Force One arrived with journalists and White House staff.

Trump later appeared before cameras as he walked down the stairs of the older Air Force One. However, The Washington Post reported that it remained unclear how he moved from the C-32A back to the older aircraft.

Afterwards, Trump boarded the newer Qatar-gifted aircraft and continued his journey to Washington, DC.

Also Read: Trump Cancels Planned Iran Attack After Negotiations

White House Defends Security Measures

Following reports of the secret flight, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended the newer aircraft and its security features.

“The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff,” Cheung’s statement said.

“As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats,” it added.

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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 to fly to the US, at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, in Milidenhall, England on July 8. PHOTO/ Win McNamee, Getty Images