Air Force One at Ankara's airport in Turkey, ahead of Donald Trump's departure. Catering trucks, one of which was used to spirit the President from the aircraft, can be seen next to it. Photo / AFP
A secret operation that reportedly smuggled US President Donald Trump off Air Force One in a catering truck has raised questions over US security practices.
The Washington Post reported on Monday that Trump exited the presidential plane while it was on the ground in Turkey on July 8 as his
security team deployed a scheme to evade an Iranian assassination threat.
Reporters travelling with the President expressed anger at having unwittingly served as decoys, while others complained about deception and lack of communication from the White House.
Trump boarded Air Force One in full view of video cameras and photographers. He then reportedly quickly left the plane, stepping inside an elevated cargo container on the other side of the plane, and was transported to a smaller US Air Force aircraft nearby.
About a dozen journalists travelling in a separate section of Air Force One with no access to the President were unaware of the switch and flew out of Turkey on the plane despite the apparent threat from Iran, which is at war with the United States.
One unnamed White House reporter told the Post: “When you sign up to work at the White House, even as a civilian, part of your job is to defend the President. That’s not my job. I cover the President. Reporters take risks as part of the job but not on behalf of the President.”
There was a credible Iranian threat to the President, a US official told the paper. Dispatches sent by pool media on board noted a Secret Service order that window shades be lowered during take-off – an unusual instruction outside of combat zones.
Trump’s trip to the Nato summit in Turkey had already raised eyebrows after he arrived on a luxury Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar and retrofitted to carry the President.
But it was reportedly not fitted with anti-missile security systems and the old Air Force One was called into action.
The President claimed at the time that the new plane was being sent ahead for US troops in Britain to tour, as a treat.
At a stopover in Britain, he returned to the Qatar-gifted plane for the flight to Washington.
Asked at the time why media had been asked to lower window shades he said “because you’re probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleaze bags that we have to deal with”.
Trump joked with reporters: “If I go, you go. Right?. Perhaps someday you want to change professions.”
The White House has yet to respond directly to the alleged plane swap.