WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump was reportedly moved secretly from Air Force One and transferred to a smaller military aircraft during a highly coordinated security operation following intelligence about a possible Iranian threat against him.

According to reports by Reuters and The Washington Post, the operation took place on July 8, 2026, as Trump prepared to leave Ankara, Turkey, after attending a NATO summit.

Trump was publicly seen boarding an older presidential Boeing aircraft, giving the impression that he would continue his journey aboard Air Force One. However, reports indicate that he was later discreetly removed from the aircraft and transported across the airport in a catering truck before boarding a U.S. Air Force C-32A, a military version of the Boeing 757 commonly used to transport senior government officials.

The smaller aircraft reportedly carried Trump to Britain, while the larger presidential aircraft continued its journey carrying journalists and other personnel.

The arrangement was reportedly designed as a security deception to conceal the president’s actual location and reduce the risk posed by any potential attack.

Some members of the travelling press and White House staff were reportedly unaware that Trump had changed aircraft. Journalists aboard the presidential plane were also said to have been instructed to keep the aircraft’s window shades closed during part of the journey.

The unusual security measures followed intelligence assessments pointing to what U.S. officials reportedly considered a credible threat linked to Iran amid continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Before leaving Turkey, Trump had publicly said he would travel aboard the older Air Force One “for old time’s sake,” while another presidential aircraft would travel separately to Britain. At the time, the full security circumstances surrounding the decision were not disclosed.

The latest reports suggest that the explanation formed part of a wider effort to conceal Trump’s actual travel arrangements.

The operation reportedly involved several aircraft, including the presidential Boeing 747 and the smaller C-32A used to transport Trump secretly to Britain.

The White House has not released full operational details, citing presidential security considerations. Officials have, however, maintained that appropriate measures are taken whenever credible threats are identified against the president.

The revelation has drawn attention to the extraordinary security precautions surrounding presidential travel and highlights the level of concern within U.S. security agencies over threats against Trump amid heightened tensions with Iran.

Source: Reuters and The Washington Post