Iran forced Trump to hide in catering truck

US President Donald Trump reportedly made a covert switch from Air Force One to a smaller military aircraft while leaving a NATO summit in Turkey last month after US intelligence detected a credible Iranian threat against his aircraft, according to US media reports.

The elaborate security operation was reportedly designed to prevent a potential attack from identifying the aircraft carrying the president.

According to The Washington Post, Trump publicly boarded the older Air Force One at Ankara airport on 8 July in full view of television cameras and journalists.

He was then allegedly transferred, without the knowledge of reporters and some White House staff, to a C-32A military aircraft — a modified Boeing 757 commonly used by the US vice-president.

The reported transfer was carried out with the assistance of a catering truck positioned at aircraft-door level on the opposite side of Air Force One from where Trump had boarded.

Officials told CBS News, the BBC's US partner, that American authorities had detected a credible Iranian threat to fire a missile at the aircraft.

The White House has not confirmed that the plane switch took place or that it was specifically prompted by an Iranian missile threat.

Trump had arrived in Turkey aboard a newer Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar but had announced that he would depart on the older Air Force One "for old time's sake".

Footage showed Trump boarding the presidential aircraft at Ankara airport.

However, according to The Washington Post, he was subsequently moved to the C-32A through a carefully concealed transfer involving the catering truck.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly boarded the C-32A separately using external stairs, helping maintain the appearance that the presidential flight was proceeding normally.

Meanwhile, journalists travelling with the president boarded Air Force One and were reportedly instructed to keep their window shades closed.

A White House press pool producer later described the request as unusual and said a photographer who briefly opened a window shade was quickly instructed to close it by the Secret Service.

The producer also reported seeing catering trucks positioned at both the front and rear of the aircraft.

The journalists were reportedly unaware that Trump was no longer aboard their aircraft.

The deception extended to the aircraft's call signs.

Although "Air Force One" technically refers to the call sign used by any aircraft carrying the US president, the C-32A reportedly operated under the call sign "Reach 18", while the aircraft carrying the journalists continued to use "AF1".

Trump subsequently travelled to the United Kingdom aboard the C-32A before reportedly rejoining the older Air Force One at RAF Mildenhall.

It remains unclear how the president was transferred back to the presidential aircraft.

He later boarded the newer Qatari-donated Air Force One for the journey back to Washington.

Trump had earlier said during the NATO summit that he was Iran's "number one target".

The reported operation came after the United States had renewed military strikes against Iran following the collapse of negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the conflict.

During the flight back to Washington aboard the new Air Force One, Trump acknowledged the security concerns surrounding his travel but did not publicly disclose the alleged plane switch.

Asked why reporters had been instructed to keep their window shades closed during the flight from Turkey, Trump said they were "probably on a dangerous flight" because of threats facing him.

He said he faced threats to his life "all the time" and claimed he was "number one" on Iran's list.

"But if I go, you go, right?" Trump told reporters, adding that they might someday consider changing professions.

The reported incident also comes amid continuing questions over the security of the Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar.

The aircraft is being retrofitted for presidential use at an estimated cost of about US$400 million.

Earlier reporting by The New York Times said Secret Service officials had raised concerns about Trump's use of the Qatari aircraft during his return from the NATO summit.

Older Air Force One aircraft are equipped with sophisticated defensive systems, including technology designed to counter incoming missile threats, according to CBS News reporting. It remains unclear what comparable systems are currently installed on the Qatari aircraft.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung did not directly confirm or deny the reported aircraft switch.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the new Air Force One was "perfectly safe" for the president's travels but would undergo additional upgrades and enhancements in the autumn, with the work expected to take about a month.

Meanwhile, the US Justice Department is investigating alleged leaks of classified or sensitive information concerning presidential security arrangements. Several New York Times journalists have reportedly been ordered to testify under oath as part of that investigation.

If confirmed, the Ankara operation would represent one of the most elaborate publicly reported presidential security deceptions in recent years, illustrating the extent to which US authorities are taking threats against Trump seriously amid escalating tensions with Iran.