The US president was moved from Air Force One to a smaller government aircraft, Reuters reported. New Delhi: A potential shoulder-fired missile attack led US Secret Service officials to make a last-minute change to Donald Trump’s departure plan from Turkey.
The security alert came on the final day of Trump’s visit to Ankara for the NATO Summit on July 8, when tensions with Iran were high.
Citing a source familiar with the matter, the news agency reported that the Secret Service regarded the intelligence as “credible and imminent” and had very little time to arrange another plan for the president’s departure. “They were scrambling to head off what they thought was a credible, imminent threat,” the source said. Officials also decided that Trump should not be told about the change in advance in a way that could expose the operation, according to the source-based report.
Turkey shares a border with Iran, and it was a security concern during the president’s movements. The person did not disclose where the intelligence had come from. The plan was handled with secrecy as security teams worked out an alternative way to get the president out of Turkey.
A second source cited by Reuters said there was no definite plan for an attack, though intelligence pointed to an apparent intention to target Trump. Trump and a small group of aides were moved from the Air Force One to a smaller C-32A government jet shortly before departure. The unusual transfer was carried out using a catering truck, allowing the president to move between aircraft without drawing attention. The Air Force One then left separately, carrying senior administration officials, White House staff and journalists who had accompanied the president during the visit. The decision allowed security officials to keep both aircraft in the air rather than ground the presidential flight altogether.
