Video shows how Trump snuck out of Turkey using a catering truck

Reports indicate that Trump was transferred into a catering container after boarding Air Force One on July 18. Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

Article content

A secret operation that reportedly smuggled Donald Trump off Air Force One in a catering truck before the plane departed carrying journalists and top aides at apparent risk of an Iranian strike has raised questions over U.S. security practices.

Article content

The Washington Post reported Monday that Trump exited the presidential plane while it was on the ground in Turkey on July 8 as his security team deployed a scheme to evade an assassination threat.

Article content

Article content

Article content

Some traveling media expressed anger at having unwittingly served as decoys, while others complained about deception and lack of communication from the White House.

Article content

Article content

Trump boarded the presidential jet in full view of video cameras and photographers, with AFP pictures showing two supply containers on hydraulic lifts at the front and rear of the aircraft.

Article content

He then reportedly quickly left the plane, stepping inside one of the cargo containers, to board a smaller U.S. Air Force aircraft positioned nearby.

Article content

About a dozen journalists traveling in a separate section of Air Force One with no access to the president were unaware of the switch and flew out of Turkey on the plane despite the apparent threat from Iran, which is at war with the United States.

Article content

A U.S. Air Force Boeing C-32A aircraft prepares to land at Pakistan’s Nur Khan military airbase in Rawalpindi on April 20, 2026. Photo by Farooq Naeem/AFP via Getty

Article content

Shoulder-to-air missile threat?

Article content

“When you sign up to work at the White House, even as a civilian, part of your job is to defend the president,” one unnamed White House reporter told the Post.

Article content

“That’s not my job. I cover the president. Reporters take risks as part of the job, but not on behalf of the president.”

Article content

The Wall Street Journal reported Israel had briefed the U.S. about a possible shoulder-to-air missile strike on Air Force One, adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was among senior officials and staff who remained on the plane.

Article content

Article content

Dispatches sent by pool media on board noted a Secret Service order that window shades be lowered during takeoff — an unusual instruction outside of combat zones.

Article content

Article content

Trump’s trip to the NATO summit in Turkey had already raised eyebrows after he arrived on a luxury Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar and retrofitted to carry the U.S. president.

Article content

But it was reportedly not fitted with anti-missile security systems and the old Air Force One was called into action.

Article content

Trump claimed at the time that the new plane was being sent ahead for U.S. troops in Britain to tour, as a treat.

Article content

At a stopover in Britain, he returned to the Qatar-gifted plane for the flight to Washington.

Article content

Asked at the time why media had been asked to lower window blinds he said “because you’re probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleaze bags that we have to deal with.”

Article content

“If I go, you go. Right?” Trump told reporters. “Perhaps someday you want to change professions.”

Article content

Trump boarded a third jet in the U.K. before returning to the U.S. Photo by Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Article content

The White House has yet to respond directly to the alleged plane swap.

Article content

“There are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement.