Global Markets
Home›Global Markets›Trade & Tariffs›Trump says Secret Service and military demanded aircra…
Trump says Secret Service and military demanded aircraft switch in Turkey
The maneuver was carried out after an Iranian assassination threat, with Trump saying he did not request details about the risk.
US President Donald Trump defended a reported, covert aircraft switch during his return from Turkey, saying the Secret Service and the military demanded the change over unspecified safety threats, according to SCMP Economy. Trump said the decision involved flying on a different aircraft after he left Turkey, while the White House had indicated he was aboard Air Force One. He made the comments after deplaning Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, following a trip that included Ohio. The SCMP Economy account, citing reporting first carried by The Washington Post, said journalists, White House staff and other officials aboard Air Force One were left with the impression that the president was returning with them from a NATO summit in Ankara. Trump confirmed he switched planes after departing Turkey, but declined to explain the threat or why officials thought Air Force One was safe for others but not for him. When asked about the safety rationale, Trump said he believed the aircraft he flew on was at greater risk, adding that he receives many threats but did not ask for extensive details about this one. The operation was prompted by an Iranian assassination threat, SCMP Economy reported.