Trump Says Secret Flight May Have Put Him at ‘Greater Risk’
5 hours ago
President Donald Trump is speaking publicly about the extraordinary security operation that saw him secretly switch planes in Turkey last month amid an Iranian assassination threat.
Trump said he followed the direction of the Secret Service and military when he was moved off Air Force One and transferred to a smaller military aircraft following the NATO summit in Ankara. The president and several close aides were reportedly moved between the aircraft using an airport catering truck as part of an effort to conceal his movements.
But Trump says he believes the switch may actually have put him in greater danger.
“I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk,” Trump told reporters, arguing that anyone aware of the security operation may have been more likely to target the alternate aircraft.
Trump said he did not ask many questions about the reported Iranian threat and instead followed the recommendations of his security team. The operation remained secret until reports about it emerged this week.
Trump said he followed the direction of the Secret Service and military when he was moved off Air Force One and transferred to a smaller military aircraft following the NATO summit in Ankara. The president and several close aides were reportedly moved between the aircraft using an airport catering truck as part of an effort to conceal his movements.
But Trump says he believes the switch may actually have put him in greater danger.
“I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk,” Trump told reporters, arguing that anyone aware of the security operation may have been more likely to target the alternate aircraft.
Trump said he did not ask many questions about the reported Iranian threat and instead followed the recommendations of his security team. The operation remained secret until reports about it emerged this week.
