Trump Responds to Secret Plane Exchange to Return to the US to Avoid Assassination: Received Many Threats, "I Followed the Military's Arrangements"

BlockBeats News, August 12th, according to The Washington Post, Trump confirmed that he secretly switched planes when leaving Turkey last month. Previously, the White House led the public to believe that Trump flew back to the U.S. from Turkey on Air Force One, but he was actually arranged to take another plane.

Trump stated on Tuesday local time that this was a request made by the Secret Service and the military due to a security threat. "They wanted me to take a different flight, a different plane. The security was the same, but they wanted me to do it, so I did it. I followed their arrangement." At that time, White House staff, accompanying journalists, and other government officials flew back to the U.S. on Air Force One from the Ankara NATO Summit and were misled to believe that the president was on the same plane with them on the return trip. This elaborate arrangement stemmed from an Iranian assassination threat against Trump.

When asked why the plane was changed, Trump replied, "I guess there was indeed some kind of threat outside. I didn't inquire too much. I have received many threats." However, Trump refused to disclose the specific nature of the threat or explain why the military believed it was safe for other individuals to fly on the presidential plane but not for him.