Trump switched planes at NATO summit after credible Iranian threat to Air Force One

The threat

While President Trump was attending the NATO summit in Ankara, U.S. intelligence intercepted a credible threat from Iranian proxy forces. According to multiple people briefed on the matter, the threat was aimed at Trump himself and whatever aircraft he was travelling on, rather than the new Qatari-donated Boeing 747-8 he had flown in on. The Secret Service immediately recommended that Trump change planes before leaving Turkey, citing the advanced defensive systems available on the older Air Force One. The New York Times first reported the nature of the threat, which had not been disclosed before.

I left standing orders for the U.S. military to destroy Iran at levels they’ve never seen before.

Trump has previously spoken about threats from Iran against his life, leaving those standing orders as a deterrent. He has said he would respond overwhelmingly if Tehran carried out its longstanding threats to kill him.

The aircraft switch

Trump had arrived in Ankara on the new Boeing 747-8, a jet donated by Qatar that he had pressed to have ready for his use. The plane lacks sophisticated countermeasures comparable to those on the legacy Air Force One. After the threat was detected, Trump announced he would use the old plane to depart, telling reporters he was doing so “for old time’s sake.” Both aircraft then made an unscheduled stop at RAF Mildenhall, a U.S. military base in the United Kingdom, before continuing to the United States.

The intelligence assessment

The threat emerged while the NATO summit was underway. U.S. officials determined it was credible and specifically targeted the president. The assessment indicated that the proxy forces were tracking Trump’s movements, not singling out the new Boeing 747-8. The Secret Service’s warning prompted a swift operational change, with Trump agreeing to board the defensively superior older Air Force One for the flight out of Turkey.

Response and aftermath

The White House has not commented on the intelligence. The Justice Department had previously subpoenaed New York Times reporters over coverage of security risks involving the Qatari jet, but those efforts were dropped. The incident highlights persistent threats from Iranian-backed forces and ongoing concerns about the security of the new presidential aircraft. Trump has continued to emphasise that any Iranian attempt on his life would trigger massive retaliation.