Trump Switched 3 Aircraft at NATO Summit After Credible Iranian Missile Threat
Updated
Updated · The Hindu · Aug 19
Trump Switched 3 Aircraft at NATO Summit After Credible Iranian Missile Threat
3 articles · Updated · The Hindu · Aug 19
Summary
A three-plane deception operation moved Donald Trump out of Türkiye after NATO summit officials warned of a credible Iranian threat to fire a missile at his aircraft.
U.S. intelligence had also received information that a person carrying a shoulder-fired missile had been seen near the summit area, prompting Secret Service and military planners to alter his departure.
Television cameras showed Trump boarding the VC-25A, but he reportedly slipped through the opposite door into a catering truck, transferred to a smaller C-32A, then later reboarded the VC-25A before returning on Qatar’s donated 747-8.
The episode highlighted why the 30-year-old VC-25A remains the core presidential aircraft: it has anti-missile defenses, EMP protection and midair refueling, while the interim Qatar-gifted 747-8 still lacks several purpose-built Air Force One features despite upgrades costing under $400 million.