US President Donald Trump was covertly transferred to a smaller military aircraft while leaving Turkey last month after American security officials received intelligence concerning a possible Iranian attack, The Washington Post reported Monday.
The operation involved an elaborate effort to conceal Trump's actual movements, with journalists and some White House personnel led to believe that the president remained aboard Air Force One as he departed Ankara following the NATO summit.
According to The Post, Trump publicly boarded the older-model Air Force One aircraft in front of television cameras before being discreetly removed minutes later and taken to an Air Force C-32A.
The newspaper based its report on material it reviewed, as well as information from a US official familiar with the security operation and another individual with knowledge of Trump's travel arrangements. The Associated Press said it had not independently verified the account.
Catering truck reportedly used in covert transfer
Trump had traveled to Ankara aboard the newly retrofitted aircraft gifted by Qatar, but announced before leaving Turkey that he would initially return aboard the older Air Force One.
At the time, Trump said the Qatari-provided jet would travel ahead so US troops stationed in eastern England could inspect the aircraft.
Instead, The Post reported that after Trump boarded the older presidential jet, he and several aides were moved through a door on the opposite side of the aircraft using an airport catering truck, which was raised to the plane using its hydraulic platform.
Trump was then transported to the C-32A, which flew him separately to Royal Air Force Mildenhall in Britain.
Journalists who believed they were traveling aboard the same aircraft as Trump were reportedly instructed to lower their window shades before departure.
After reaching Mildenhall, Trump appears to have boarded Air Force One again outside the view of the traveling press corps. Photographers subsequently captured him leaving the presidential aircraft at the base, maintaining the appearance that he had flown there aboard the jet.
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