Former President Donald J. Trump said the Secret Service and the U.S. military wanted him removed from Air Force One during a trip to Turkey [1].
The account raises questions about the nature of security threats facing the former president and the operational protocols used by the U.S. military and Secret Service during international travel.
Speaking Wednesday, Aug. 12 [1], Trump described events that occurred last month in July 2026 [1], [2]. He said that a credible security threat existed while he was in Turkey, prompting security officials to request that he leave the primary presidential aircraft [1], [3].
Trump said he instead boarded a different aircraft to ensure his safety. "I was on a secret flight, it was a greater risk than the decoy Air Force One," Trump said [1].
According to Trump, the military and Secret Service believed he would be safer on a "secret" aircraft than on the highly visible Air Force One [1], [3]. Despite the urgency expressed by his security detail, Trump said he remained calm during the transition.
"They wanted me off Air Force One because there was a threat, but I wasn’t scared," Trump said [3].
The former president did not provide specific details regarding the origin or nature of the threat in Turkey. He said the move was intended to mitigate risk during the diplomatic visit [1], [3].
“"I was on a secret flight, it was a greater risk than the decoy Air Force One."”
The disclosure of a security threat during a high-profile visit to Turkey highlights the ongoing volatility of international travel for former U.S. presidents. The use of a 'secret' aircraft suggests that security agencies may employ non-standard evacuation or transport protocols when the visibility of Air Force One becomes a liability rather than a deterrent.
