U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly used a covert travel operation to leave a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, last month after U.S. authorities received an alleged Iranian assassination threat against him.
According to a report by The Washington Post, Trump initially boarded an older Air Force One aircraft in full view of television cameras. However, shortly afterward, he was secretly transferred to a smaller U.S. Air Force C-32A aircraft using an airport catering truck.
The smaller aircraft then flew Trump from Ankara to Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the United Kingdom before he continued his journey to the United States.
The operation reportedly created the impression that Trump remained aboard the Air Force One aircraft. Journalists and some White House staff members were allegedly unaware that the president had been moved to another plane.
Trump had originally traveled to the NATO summit aboard a newly refurbished luxury jet gifted to the United States by Qatar. Before leaving Ankara, he said he would instead travel part of the way home on the older Air Force One aircraft.
At the time, Trump said the new aircraft would be flown ahead to Britain so that U.S. troops stationed there could inspect the newly acquired presidential jet.
The Associated Press said it had not independently verified the Washington Post report.
The reported security operation highlights the heightened security concerns surrounding Trump amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.
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