Trump hidden in catering truck in secret plane swap over Iran threat, reports say

Reports indicate that Donald Trump was secretly moved in a catering truck during a plane swap last month, prompted by a potential Iranian threat as he departed a NATO summit in Turkey.

According to US media, the US president initially boarded Air Force One in Ankara in full view of cameras. However, he was then discreetly transferred via an elevated airport catering truck to a military aircraft, a maneuver that reportedly went unnoticed by journalists and some White House staff. The Washington Post detailed this secret transfer.

Officials informed CBS News, the BBC's US partner, that a credible Iranian missile threat against the plane had been detected. The White House has not officially confirmed the secret switch.

Earlier during the Ankara summit, Trump had stated he was Iran's "number one target." This clandestine operation occurred the day after the US resumed military strikes on Iran, following a breakdown in negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the conflict.

Trump had arrived in Turkey on a newer Boeing 747-8, a gift from Qatar, but announced his intention to depart on the older Air Force One "for old time's sake." Footage from July 8 showed him boarding the presidential jet at Ankara airport. However, the Washington Post reported that he was then secretly moved to a smaller C-32A military aircraft—a modified Boeing 757 often used by the vice president—via a catering truck positioned on the opposite side of the plane.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly boarded the C-32A separately using external stairs to maintain the appearance of a normal flight, the newspaper stated. Journalists and some White House staff boarded Air Force One and were instructed to close their window shades, unaware that the president was no longer on board.

Trump then flew to the UK en route to the US. He later reboarded the old Air Force One and was seen disembarking from it after its landing at RAF Mildenhall. The method of his transfer from the C-32A back to the legacy jet remains unclear. He subsequently boarded the Qatari-donated jet for his flight from the UK to the US.

During that flight, Trump spoke to reporters, acknowledging the threats from Iran but omitting any mention of the earlier plane swap. When asked why reporters were told to lower the window shades on the flight from Turkey, Trump responded, "Because you're probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleazebags we have to deal with." He added that he faces a "threat all the time" to his life and is "number one" on Iran's "list." He then remarked, "But if I go, you go, right?" and suggested, "Perhaps someday you want to change professions."

White House communications director Steven Cheung neither confirmed nor denied the reports directly, but stated that the new Air Force One is a "state-of-the-art aircraft" equipped with security measures to protect the president and his staff.

Previous reporting by CBS News indicated that US intelligence had warned of a specific threat of an attack on Trump or his aircraft. The New York Times had also previously reported on security concerns regarding the Qatari-gifted jet, including that the Secret Service had urged Trump to switch planes upon his return from the NATO summit. Several journalists from the publication were subpoenaed to testify under oath in response, and the Justice Department later informed the BBC it was investigating illegal leaks.

The US has spent months retrofitting the $400 million Boeing 747-8 for presidential use. Sources told CBS News that older Air Force One planes possess laser technology to blind incoming missiles, though the systems on the Qatari jet are unknown.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated to CBS News that "The new Air Force One is perfectly safe for the President's travels, but will receive additional upgrades and enhancements in the fall which will take approximately one month to complete."