WASHINGTON, D.C. — Several new details have emerged this week about a reported missile threat against Air Force One in Turkey after last month’s NATO summit.
The threat prompted a secret security operation that surprised everybody. It comes as security concerns continue to follow the president here at home.
Reports say officials received a credible threat involving a shoulder-fired missile with sights set on Air Force One after last month’s NATO summit in Turkey. The Secret Service and military came up with a ruse, which some analysts say is actually quite common.
Trump was secretly moved from Air Force One to a smaller C-32A — using a catering truck. Air Force One then took off without the president — passengers, including the traveling press corps, and the public were completely unaware Trump was not on board.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other high-level White House officials were among those who remained on the plane.
“All the assets, including the plane that took off with the news media, they were protected by fighter jets so they had a full entourage of protection even associated with that,” said Michael Gould, a retired NYPD lieutenant who worked security details for presidents George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter.
Trump later said security officials directed him to make the switch. In the days since the story broke, criticism has arisen over leaving Cabinet members, journalists and others on the “decoy plane.”
“It’s been done before in the past with presidents flying into combat zones, telling the press they were somewhere and they were somewhere else. And that’s just the nature of the Secret Service. It’s called the Secret Service for a reason. It’s not called the public service. It’s secret,” said Gould.
“It’s nothing new. This is something the Secret Service primary mission is to protect the primary purpose of the president of the United States. Period, full stop. All other assets are secondary,” he added.
The president’s security challenges don’t end there, however.
The plane ruse follows a string of other potential security concerns for the president. Over the weekend, F-16 fighter jets intercepted two aircraft that entered restricted airspace while Trump golfed in New Jersey.
And last week, authorities in California arrested a man near President Trump’s Los Angeles-area golf club ahead of the president’s scheduled visit for a fundraising dinner there.
