# Trump secretly switched planes in Turkey over Iran missile threat

2026-08-12T23:40:14+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 4 independent outlets

US President Donald Trump secretly flew out of the NATO summit in Ankara last month on a smaller military aircraft while Air Force One took off as a decoy, multiple US reports say. The Washington Post reported that an Iranian assassination threat, including a possible shoulder-fired missile strike, prompted the extraordinary operation. Trump confirmed the switch on Tuesday, saying he followed Secret Service orders. He downplayed the risk, telling reporters he gets "a lot of threats." The New York Times reported that US intelligence intercepted information showing Iranian operatives knew Trump’s exact hotel floor in Ankara and that someone near the summit site had been seen carrying a shoulder-fired missile. Journalists and senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were on the decoy plane unaware. The White House has not directly acknowledged the operation, with communications director Steven Cheung saying "we use every tool at our disposal."

## Coverage

- thehindu.com <https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/trumps-secret-plane-swap-triggers-questions-and-confusion/article71334884.ece>
- timesnownews.com <https://www.timesnownews.com/world/middle-east/iran-knew-trumps-exact-location-hotel-floor-during-nato-summit-report-article-155603309>
- thefederal.com <https://thefederal.com/category/international/trump-says-he-secretly-switched-planes-in-turkiye-after-security-threat-253299>
- thehindu.com <https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/trump-secretly-flew-out-of-turkiye-after-nato-summit-because-of-iran-threat-report/article71331472.ece>
- livemint.com <https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/shoulderfired-missile-threat-why-trump-was-made-to-secretly-switch-planes-after-nato-summit-in-turkey-11786580922892.html>

Tags: Air Force One, Donald Trump, Iran threat, NATO summit, security deception, White House press pool
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