US President Donald Trump has admitted to secretly switching his aircraft while in Turkey, acting on instructions from the Secret Service. He stated that the military plane he boarded actually carried a higher risk. He noted that he traveled on that aircraft based on the advice of the Secret Service and the military. News agency Reuters reported this development.
Last month, following a NATO summit in Ankara, Donald Trump was secretly transferred from Air Force One to a military aircraft via a catering truck (a vehicle used for supplying food and provisions). US media reported that this measure was taken due to a potential assassination threat from Iran. However, the switch was kept completely confidential until The Washington Post first revealed it. This sparked criticism regarding whether other officials and journalists accompanying the President had been left in a risky situation without being informed.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump said he believed the plane he traveled on posed a greater risk because attackers could have targeted that specific aircraft. Explaining that he had no choice but to follow the directives of the Secret Service and the military, he mentioned there was a threat but stated he did not ask for details, as he frequently receives such threats.
On the day of the incident, the White House had announced that the President was traveling from Turkey to Britain aboard Air Force One. However, shortly after boarding the plane in view of the cameras, he secretly transferred to a smaller alternative aircraft via a catering truck and departed for Britain. Earlier, Trump had traveled to Ankara for the NATO summit on a newly refurbished plane provided by Qatar, but on the return journey, he unexpectedly announced he would be flying back on an older aircraft.
