President Donald Trump confirmed he secretly left Turkey on a different aircraft instead of Air Force One after last month's NATO summit, saying the Secret Service and military wanted him off the plane due to a threat. Former Secret Service agents called the swap unusual but not unprecedented, with one suggesting it was likely improvised quickly. Trump made his first public comments about the incident on Tuesday.
NYTimes – US President Trump secretly left Turkey last month following a NATO summit on a different plane than Air Force One even though many others were still allowed to board. Mr. Trump on Tuesday made his first public comments about the secret switch. Nancy Cordes reports.
President Trump has publicly confirmed that he secretly switched from Air Force One to a different aircraft after a NATO summit in Turkey last month, attributing the move to a Secret Service and military decision prompted by a threat. The incident, reportedly driven by a credible Iranian missile or assassination threat, continues to draw questions.
Grounded in 4 reports across 3 sources
“They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane,” Trump told reporters after returning from an event in Ohio. “I guess there was a threat out there. I didn’t really ask too much about it,” he said. “I get a lot of threats.”
President Trump secretly left Turkey last month following a NATO summit on a different plane than Air Force One even though many others were still allowed to board. Mr. Trump on Tuesday made his first public comments about the secret switch. Nancy Cordes reports.
NPR's Michel Martin speaks with former Secret Service agent Robert McDonald about reports that President Trump boarded a military aircraft instead of flying aboard Air Force One from Turkey.
NYTimes – US Trump claims his secret plane was in more danger than the Air Force One decoy the public thought Trump was flying on.
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