Remember the controversy several weeks back regarding President Trump’s transportation to and from the NATO summit in Turkey? He flew his new $400 million Qatar-gifted Boeing 747-8 to Turkey, but then claimed he flew back on the old Air Force One, with a pretty dubious explanation?
Well, there’s now a fascinating story about what really happened, and it’s quite something. And before anyone yells at me, this isn’t intended to be political (in the sense of being pro or anti Trump), it’s just an interesting story…
In this post:
Trump boarded Air Force One in Turkey, then snuck off
On July 8, 2026, there was video footage of Trump boarding the old Air Force One in Ankara, Turkey, ready to depart to RAF Mildenhall, in the United Kingdom. He climbed up the stairs of Air Force One, but as it turns out, he didn’t actually fly on the plane.
Instead, it’s now being reported that he actually secretly exited the plane on the other side, by getting on an airport catering truck. That catering truck then drove him to a nearby plane, which is what he actually flew to depart Turkey, unbeknownst to reporters, and even many of his aides (who were on the Air Force One jet).
You can see part of this operation in the below video.
Let me just go through this in a bit more detail:
- Trump flew to Turkey on his new Air Force One jet, gifted by Qatar, which obviously doesn’t have the same safety equipment as the old Air Force One jet (given that it just took months, rather than years, to retrofit it)
- Authorities apparently learned about some sort of an Iranian assassination attempt, which is what triggered the operation intended to conceal the plane on which Trump was actually departing the country
- So the Qatar gifted plane took off from Ankara first, but no one ever thought Trump was on that, since he publicly said he wasn’t
- Trump then publicly boarded the old Air Force One jet, the VC-25A (based on the Boeing 747-200), and tried to make it look as if that’s the plane he was flying on
- Trump then exited the plane on the other side through a catering truck, and that then drove to the nearby Air Force Boeing C-32A (based on the 757-200), where it also pulled up to the rear door; this is also the plane that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was flying on
- White House aides and reporters boarded the old Air Force One jet, were told to lower their window shades, and throughout the flight had no clue that Trump wasn’t actually onboard
- The old Air Force One jet then took off with the callsign “Air Force One,” even though the president wasn’t actually on it, while Trump flew on the C-32A, under the callsign “Reach 18”
- The plane Trump was on then overtook the Air Force One jet while enroute, and landed at RAF Mildenhall first
- Trump then somehow still got onto the old Air Force One jet, so that he could exit that plane in front of the cameras, making it appear as if he was actually on that plane
Interestingly, on the later flight to Washington on the new Air Force One, reporters asked Trump why they had to keep their window shades down on the previous flight (again, not knowing that Trump wasn’t actually on the plane). He responded they were “probably on a dangerous flight,” and went on to say “but if I go, you go, right?”
Hah, I’m surprised we didn’t catch on earlier
This isn’t the first time that we’ve seen such an operation involving the president. Back in 2000, a similar tactic was employed for former President Bill Clinton, where he flew an unmarked executive jet into Pakistan, while sending the “real” Air Force One as a decoy.
Going back and watching the video footage now, it seems rather obvious that something was off. You don’t typically see airport catering trucks pulled up to Air Force One at the same time that the president is boarding, and moments before the plane is about to depart. Like, Air Force One isn’t an American Boeing 737 making a 50-minute turn in Charlotte. 😉
However, even if you were to find that strange, you probably wouldn’t come to the conclusion that the president is secretly being shuttled on a catering truck, and is flying on an airplane without the “Air Force One” callsign.
Bottom line
In early July, Trump’s departure from a NATO summit in Turkey made headlines, as he claimed he was flying on the old Air Force One, rather than the one that was newly gifted from Qatar. As it turns out, there’s even more to this story, though, as flying the old Air Force One was just a decoy.
Instead, Trump boarded the old Air Force One, then exited it through a catering truck, and flew another Air Force jet to the United Kingdom. Even when landing there, he somehow got back onto the “standard” Air Force One, to make it appear as if he had actually flown that…
Yawn. The drama has gotten pretty stale.
Maybe you shouldn’t hold a NATO summit in a country who shares a border with a country that you are at war with.
I'm wondering if they were able to care for his bone spurs as safely on the 757 as either of the 747s.
Hope the catering truck was well stocked with cheeseburgers!
Sorry, just hamberders
The "new" AF1 doesn't have all the anti-missile defenses that the VC-25 has. So that was switch #1. I still laugh at the idiots who through a fit about that. A very credible threat was made. The secret service decided to make the switch to safeguard the president. The folks remaining on AF1, including very high-level officials, had the exceptional raw gear, all the secret stuff, and anti-missile capabilities to take on the threat, but...
The "new" AF1 doesn't have all the anti-missile defenses that the VC-25 has. So that was switch #1. I still laugh at the idiots who through a fit about that. A very credible threat was made. The secret service decided to make the switch to safeguard the president. The folks remaining on AF1, including very high-level officials, had the exceptional raw gear, all the secret stuff, and anti-missile capabilities to take on the threat, but there's always the golden BB to take into account.
Well, Ben, it’s an interesting story… if it’s true.
And perhaps even more interesting if it isn’t.
Leaking genuine details about how the Secret Service secretly moved the president to Air Force One would seem to go well beyond good journalistic sleuthing. If someone with access to those plans knowingly disclosed them, particularly if they revealed security procedures that might be used again, I would think that could constitute an extraordinarily serious - and potentially...
Well, Ben, it’s an interesting story… if it’s true.
And perhaps even more interesting if it isn’t.
Leaking genuine details about how the Secret Service secretly moved the president to Air Force One would seem to go well beyond good journalistic sleuthing. If someone with access to those plans knowingly disclosed them, particularly if they revealed security procedures that might be used again, I would think that could constitute an extraordinarily serious - and potentially criminal - breach.
Unless…
Unless the information was deliberately leaked.
What better way to make the Iranians - or anyone else contemplating an attack on the president - wonder whether anything they learn about his movements can be trusted? Publicize an elaborate story about catering trucks, decoy aircraft and a Secret Service sleight of hand, and suddenly any future intelligence about presidential movements becomes suspect. Is it real, or is the Secret Service playing another game?
What makes me particularly curious is the apparent lack of outrage over the leak itself. If someone had genuinely and inadvertently exposed a highly sensitive Secret Service operation, I would have expected immediate demands from the president and his administration to identify and prosecute the leaker.
So far, unless I’ve missed something, there’s been remarkably little of that.
I’m not normally a conspiracy theorist, but…
Maybe the “leak” is actually part of the story.
Yeah, yeah, focus on the leakers. If only there was another presidency that did that... maybe, they should hire some White House plumbers... hmm... anyway, "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!"
Ben, Please help. Having a problem with the daily email from you. I have to sign out and sign back in each time I see a new article in order to "like" a comment that someone has made or to leave a comment of my own.
Something is a miss here.
There does not seem to be a "help" channel on your site.
Thanks, Brad
They should have let the vile POS fly on his Qatari jet and let the chips fall where they may. Sounds like a lot of work to protect him from himself.
Please stop the silliness. Trump does so many things wrong; attack those. But, I'm forced to defend the actions of a person I don't respect.
Was anyone on 25A put at more risk by this "stunt"? Would anyone on 25A have been safer if Trump stayed? [In Cartman's voice] Hell, no. Should the pax been told after takeoff? Maybe, but only if, of course, they can't share that with off-plane folks. Otherwise, the world...
Please stop the silliness. Trump does so many things wrong; attack those. But, I'm forced to defend the actions of a person I don't respect.
Was anyone on 25A put at more risk by this "stunt"? Would anyone on 25A have been safer if Trump stayed? [In Cartman's voice] Hell, no. Should the pax been told after takeoff? Maybe, but only if, of course, they can't share that with off-plane folks. Otherwise, the world knows Trump is not on 25A and must be on a plane less capable of defending itself. Tell them beforehand? Then all the bad guys know. Nobody was put at additional risk for Trump's benefit. Now, let's move on to Trump's stupid executive order to make children less safe, oops, reduce the number of vaccines given children.
^You've said before that you're based in Ohio. Hope you're actually voting for former senator Sherrod Brown this November; otherwise, all your talk is pretty cheap on here.
Atta boy Donnie !!! MAGA. Just making America great again and saving the world.
it's sort of appalling how he used the press as bait on his purported flight, but given how much the press has been obsequious lickspittles for him, i assume their reaction would be "thank you sir, may we have another" anyway
Or they could go full Todd Blanche and say "I LOVE YOU!" to him.
Trump escaped? really, escaped? In order to escape you'd need to be imprisoned or held hostage, neither happened. TDS in effect
And the predictable TDRS from you.
Trump escaped? really, escaped? In order to escape you'd need to be imprisoned, or held hostage, neither happened. TDS in effect
trump hidden next to old nuts and stale beer seems appropos.
Guys, let’s be honest. This was almost certainly all planned and recommended by the secret service. You may disagree with their tactics but this has little to do with Trump himself.
Actually, no. Because, if it were President Obama in the same situation, you'd likely be frothing mad, demanding an impeachment, claiming he's weak, national security, tan suit, etc. Meanwhile, most of us on here are just laughing at how humiliating this is that the guy got us into a new war after promising 'no new wars,' and now has to do this silly stuff. Also, the fact that he corruptly accepted a massive bribe from...
Actually, no. Because, if it were President Obama in the same situation, you'd likely be frothing mad, demanding an impeachment, claiming he's weak, national security, tan suit, etc. Meanwhile, most of us on here are just laughing at how humiliating this is that the guy got us into a new war after promising 'no new wars,' and now has to do this silly stuff. Also, the fact that he corruptly accepted a massive bribe from the Qataris for that new jet, but still has to use the actual AF1s (747, 757) because there's no way the Qatari 748 is sufficient for security. The sad part is all this is ultimately paid for using our taxpayer money. Anyway, enjoy the show... *circus music intensifies*
@1990
You might be surprised to hear that I voted for Obama in 2008 (though not 2012). I would like to think I would have extended the same grace and understanding if it were any president, including Obama.
P.S. Never cared about the tan suit.
How about in May 2009, when President Obama ordered a cheeseburger with spicy Dijon mustard instead of ketchup at a restaurant in Virginia... or, in July 2009, when he worse the so-called 'mom jeans' while throwing the first pitch at the MLB All-Star Game... *gasp*
@1990
Don’t remember the cheeseburger episode and barely remember the mom jeans, though I think that was good-natured ribbing instead of a political takedown.
However, I remember multiple politicians eating pizza with a fork and knife. And most memorable is de Blasio eating French fries like a space alien while promoting the COVID vaccine. You ever see someone hold 3-4 fries at a time, take a small nibble of all of them at once, and keep talking?
Ahh, yeah... as a New Yorker, who enjoys eating the occasional big greasy slice by hand (folding it, like a human-being; no fork/knife, my freaking goodness) that really was atrocious.
So they got a threat against the plane he and the media were supposed to be flying on and he snuck off to another plane leaving the media on a plane they had a credible threat against?
Surely, that does not surprise you.
clicks are down... time for a trump post...
It was top of the NYTimes yesterday... oh, right, let's witch hunt Fauci, instead. THAT's real news. /s
TDS is beautiful to watch. Sadly only 2 years more of it.
@Jimmy It's literally an aviation blog posting about aviation. Why are you being odd?
James, it seems Jimmy is trying, but he simply can't 'cry harder,' sadly. Boo hoo.
Jimmy has TDRS.
I'm sure lots of Fox dudes were on the plane among journos. I bet the "he-endangered-journos" braindeads here sure wouldn't mind if those were shut down?
Trump Devotion Syndrome is thick with you.
SAD!
*Thicc.
Lmao, ladies, i truly love you
Trump Jokes aside for a minute.
I wonder what is the morale and thoughts of staffers who remained on AF1.
Is it that it's the Presi/ Security Protocols so it is what it is, or is it that this guy really doesn't care about us.
"...is it that this guy really doesn't care about us."
That's not a real question, is it?
Cowards being cowards. Imagine that. What a pathetic excuse for a human.
So when his own skin is threatened Donny is perfectly happy to take a 11 hour flight on an ancient 757; no need for that glitzy 747 after all.
Jeeze, people have to eat of that truck!
This is all perfectly understandable, because Trump cares about no one else but himself.
He is the president. They would have made him if he wanted to or not. They have a duty to protect him.
Interesting, because as commander in chief, technically he doesn’t have to follow secret service orders; rather, they have to follow his orders. Turns out, we have a king. Thanks 6-3 consecutive Supreme Court! (Only this one, though; doesn’t apply to Democrats.)
So one of those lavatory clean-out tankers wasn't available?
Was the catering truck properly cleaned afterward?
This is just WILD!
Are we ‘great again’ yet?
‘Tired of all the winning.’
Important to know, no FOX journalists were harmed in this stunt
tots and pears...
Fox has no journalists because it is not a news channel. We expect journalists to speak truth to power. Hegeseth was a Fox contributor for a decade. Yet, during his confirmation hearing, when asked what countries are in ASEAN, he listed Japan, S. Korea and Australia. If he knew what the abbreviation stands for and East Asia geography, he would not make a fool of himself. Or if he cared to be a laughing stock...
Fox has no journalists because it is not a news channel. We expect journalists to speak truth to power. Hegeseth was a Fox contributor for a decade. Yet, during his confirmation hearing, when asked what countries are in ASEAN, he listed Japan, S. Korea and Australia. If he knew what the abbreviation stands for and East Asia geography, he would not make a fool of himself. Or if he cared to be a laughing stock because he firmly believes he is always right along with Trump.
I recall from their court filings... they're 'entertainment' officially. Psh. Should say 'propaganda.'
Fox has no journalists because it is not a news channel. We expect journalists to speak truth to power, not a mouthpiece of the government. Hegseth was Fox contributor for over a decade. Yet, at his confirmation hearing, he listed Japan, S. Korea and Australia as ASEAN members. If he knew its abbreviation and East Asia geography, he would not knowingly make a fool of himself on national TV.
Using everyone else on board AF1 as bait is next-level loser behavior. On brand for this regime, but still...
Just like how Obama did with Ukraine?
Benny with Israel?
And almost every US president in the last century with Taiwan?
Woah, Eskimo, you tryin’ to start WWIII on here? Let’s get you some delicious seal meat and return to the igloo, ok, bud?
Smooth brain you have. I recommend trying to do some critical thinking
I did. It's just too critical for JuicyJay.
And we all know that 1990 is a racist hypocrite.
But if you want to see the truth and point out other situations where US presidents have used an ally or an American as bait, let me know. So many publicly disclosed historical and on going fishing trips.
Living here in DC, I've always wondered why the President travels in a big motorcade. No one would ever notice if he just drove around in a random Toyota.
Exactly my thoughts! I live in the central part of New Delhi for work right now, and government motorcades are a frequent disruption. If the government is really concerned about safety, just get into any of the small micro-hatches shuttling around, and no one would bat an eyelid!
At which point do you think, someone is placing bets on : "do you think he is dumb enough to do this?"... I guess the answer is you'll be sure he'll do it...
Looking forward to this South Park episode.
hahaha