President Donald J. Trump (R-FL) said the Secret Service decided to use a decoy aircraft during his departure from Ankara, Turkey, on Monday.
The incident highlights the security protocols surrounding the U.S. president and the tensions involving Iranian threats during international diplomatic missions.
Trump said the decision to switch from the official Air Force One to a decoy plane was not his own. "It’s only up to the Secret Service," Trump said.
The covert plane swap occurred as the president left Turkey. According to reports, the move was a response to an alleged Iranian threat targeting the president's aircraft.
Trump addressed the security concerns during the trip. "I guess there was a threat out there," Trump said.
While Trump suggested the decoy was a unique response to a specific threat, other reports indicate that Air Force One has been used as a decoy in previous administrations, including during a trip to Pakistan under President Bill Clinton.
Some critics have questioned the nature of the swap. A former spokesman for President Barack Obama criticized the move and suggested the president orchestrated the switch to hide his movements.
Trump denied these suggestions and maintained that the security detail managed the logistics. "The Secret Service ordered the Air Force One swap," Trump said.
“"It’s only up to the Secret Service."”
The use of decoy aircraft is a rare but established security measure designed to mislead potential attackers. By attributing the decision entirely to the Secret Service, the president is distancing himself from the tactical execution of the move while highlighting a perceived external threat from Iran, which adds a layer of geopolitical tension to the diplomatic visit.
