Trump switched planes in Turkey by using airport catering cart

US President Donald Trump secretly switched aircraft after a Nato summit in Turkey, smuggling himself from the presidential jet to a smaller military plane in an airport catering cart as part of a security operation prompted by a credible assassination threat from Iran.

Trump had publicly boarded the older, baby-blue Air Force One in full view of television cameras, giving the impression that he would leave Turkey aboard the jumbo jet. Minutes later, however, he was secretly moved to an Air Force C-32A using an airport catering cart, according to information about the operation, says the Guardian.

The cart, normally used to transport meals and supplies to aircraft, provided cover for Trump's transfer between the two planes.

The ruse was designed to mislead the public and journalists, as well as some White House staff, about Trump's whereabouts. While reporters believed the president was aboard the older Air Force One, Trump had already departed Turkey on the smaller military aircraft.

A decoy presidential flight

Trump had previously said on Truth Social that he would travel aboard the older Air Force One "for old time's sake". A newer Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar was also stationed at the Turkish base.

After Trump was transferred to the C-32A, journalists travelling aboard the older Air Force One were instructed to keep their window shades closed throughout the flight.

When reporters later questioned Trump about the restrictions, he said they were "probably on a dangerous flight," adding, "But if I go, you go. Right?".

The journalists therefore remained on the decoy aircraft without knowing that Trump was travelling separately.

Some White House staff were also unaware of the president's actual location during the flight.

Trump reappears in Britain

Both aircraft flew to RAF Mildenhall in Britain, arriving within minutes of each other at about 10:20 pm local time.

It remains unclear exactly how Trump was transferred back to the older Air Force One. But at 10:56 pm, he was seen publicly disembarking from the aircraft, greeting service members before walking towards the newer Qatari-donated Boeing 747-8.

The sequence allowed Trump to appear to have travelled aboard the same aircraft as the journalists while concealing the fact that he had left Turkey aboard a separate military plane.

The White House confirmed that security measures had been taken in response to threats.

Communications director Steve Cheung said the administration uses "every tool at our disposal" to address threats from "enemies of America".

A precedent from Clinton's presidency

The operation took place amid escalating tensions with Iran, which borders Turkey.

The use of a decoy aircraft has a precedent in US presidential travel. In 2000, then-President Bill Clinton used an unmarked executive jet to enter Pakistan while the formal Air Force One served as a decoy.

Trump's operation differed in that the president publicly boarded one aircraft before being secretly moved between planes in an airport catering cart, allowing his actual departure from Turkey to remain concealed.