In a rare security maneuver last month, US President Donald Trump secretly left Turkey aboard a separate military plane while members of his cabinet stayed behind on a decoy aircraft.
According to reports, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remained on the original plane, which retained the Air Force One call sign despite the president's absence. This decoy was intended to maintain the presidential line of succession amid unspecified security concerns related to Iran.
Details of the Operation
- On July 8, Trump entered the plane with officials and press but later concealed himself in a catering truck to transfer to another military jet.
- The original aircraft, carrying Rubio, Bessent, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and Communications Director Steven Cheung, acted as a decoy.
- The second plane, which flew Trump out of Ankara, included Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Trump later told reporters the decision was made by the US military and Secret Service due to security threats, though he did not specify the nature of these threats.
Context and Precedents
Using decoy planes and other 'shell games' is a known tactic to protect the president during high-risk trips. Similar measures were taken during Bill Clinton's 2000 visit to Islamabad, where a decoy Air Force One jet was used.
It remains unclear what level of awareness the officials and press aboard the decoy flight had about the operation. Reporters have stated they were unaware they were on a decoy.
The White House Correspondents' Association has not commented on the incident. The White House has also not responded to requests for further information.
