What would you do if security officials suddenly told you to abandon your presidential plane?
For Donald Trump, the answer was simple: follow orders.
Trump has confirmed that he secretly switched aircraft after leaving a NATO summit in Turkey last month because of a possible Iranian missile threat.
The extraordinary operation reportedly saw Trump slip off Air Force One via a catering truck before boarding a smaller military aircraft.
Journalists and some White House staff were left aboard the original plane, unaware that the president had already left.
Why the elaborate deception? US officials told CBS News that intelligence had detected a credible threat involving a possible missile attack.
The New York Times also reported that someone near the summit had been seen with a shoulder-fired missile.
Swap Foiled Potential Attack
Trump said he “just” followed instructions from the Secret Service and military.
He added that the replacement aircraft could even have been at greater risk because it was the plane an attacker might target.
The ruse was designed to make it difficult to know which aircraft was carrying the president.
Even its call sign was changed to “Reach 18”, while the decoy continued using “Air Force One”.
The episode highlights the extraordinary security risks surrounding a president.
And leaves one awkward question hanging: who knew the real Air Force One was no longer carrying Trump?
