The president reportedly took a secret flight out of Turkey in response to threats from Iran. The White House managed to keep the cloak and dagger escape under wraps for a month.
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President Donald Trump was secreted out of Turkey at the end of a recent international trip in an elaborate ruse involving decoy jets and a catering truck − all in an effort to avoid an Iranian assassination plot, the Washington Post and New York Times reported.
In early July, Trump had flown to Turkey to attend a NATO summit aboard the new Qatari-gifted Air Force One. But once in Turkey, hostilities resumed with Iran and Trump announced that the new jet would depart for the United Kingdom and he would fly out on the older, powdered blue Air Force One.
But according to new reporting by The Washington Post, the president was not on board when it departed. Instead, Trump was secretly transported off Air Force One and moved to another military jet to fly out of Turkey and to the United Kingdom.
The method used to conceal the president was a catering truck typically used on the tarmac to deliver food and beverages to airplanes, the Washington Post reported.Members of the White House staff and press flew aboard Air Force One unaware that Trump had taken a separate plane for his safety, the Washington Post reported, citing a review of materials, an unnamed U.S. official and another person familiar with the president’s travel. The New York Times also reported the story later on Monday evening.
“We are wheels up from Ankara as of 8:43 p.m.,” a White House pool reporter shared from aboard the powder blue Air Force One at the time. “We have been advised to keep our window shades in the press cabin closed. See you on the other side.”
USA TODAY has reached out to the White House for comment on the ruse to leave Ankara.