A credible Iranian assassination plot targeting President Donald Trump triggered an extraordinary covert security operation last month, with the president secretly transferred onto a different US military aircraft while reporters and even some White House aides believed he was traveling aboard Air Force One, according to a report published Monday by The Washington Post.

The previously undisclosed mission was carried out under tight secrecy, with embedded journalists and several White House staff members unaware that Trump was no longer on the aircraft they believed was carrying him. The Washington Post said its account was based on operational documents, a US official familiar with the mission, and another source with knowledge of presidential travel procedures.

Publicly, the White House maintained that Trump departed Turkey on July 8 aboard the traditional Air Force One aircraft. Earlier, Trump had posted on social media that he intended to fly on the “former Air Force One” instead of the Boeing 747-8 donated to the United States by Qatar, an aircraft that had drawn public attention over its security capabilities and which Trump said would receive additional defensive upgrades.

Television cameras captured Trump boarding the familiar blue-and-white Air Force One in Ankara. But shortly afterward, officials quietly moved him to a smaller Air Force C-32A aircraft using an airport catering truck normally used to load food onto planes, according to a US official and records reviewed by The Washington Post. The larger aircraft then continued its mission as a decoy, carrying members of the press and White House staff who believed the president was still on board.

Trump was in Ankara for a NATO summit with world leaders. The secret transfer took place one night after he ordered a new round of US airstrikes against Iranian targets following the collapse of negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending months of hostilities.

The operation successfully concealed Trump’s actual location for several hours, not only from the public but also from numerous senior US government officials. Even weeks later, it remains uncertain how many people within the administration were informed about the security measures.

After being presented with details of the operation by The Washington Post, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended the Qatari aircraft in a statement.

“The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff,” Cheung stated, adding, “As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats.”

A Pentagon spokesman declined to comment directly, referring all questions to the White House, while the Secret Service did not respond to requests for comment.

Throughout the operation, official White House communications continued to state publicly that Trump had departed Turkey aboard the traditional Air Force One Boeing 747, the aircraft he had used before the Qatari plane entered service.

The Washington Post’s account follows reporting last month by The New York Times, which revealed that US officials abruptly changed Trump’s aircraft after receiving intelligence about a credible assassination threat from Iranian proxy groups targeting both the president and his plane.

As the emergency aircraft transfer unfolded, reports emerged that Israeli intelligence had warned American agencies of Iranian plots to assassinate Trump. Some US officials reportedly viewed the intelligence cautiously, fearing it could be intended to encourage a more forceful American military response against Iran.

According to sources cited by The New York Times, however, the specific threat that prompted the aircraft switch in Turkey was separate from the intelligence Israel had shared with the United States.

While Trump remained in Ankara—roughly 1,000 miles from Tehran—the United States launched renewed strikes against Iranian targets. Speaking to reporters about the decision to change aircraft, Trump acknowledged that Iran has repeatedly sought to target him.

“They want to take out the US leader – me,” he stated, continuing, “I’m on every list. I saw this morning, I’m on every single one of their lists. And so far, I guess I’ve been a little bit lucky, but that maybe doesn’t last very long.”

{Matzav.com}