President Donald Trump was secretly transferred to a smaller military aircraft while leaving a NATO summit in Turkey last month after U.S. officials received an Iranian threat, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remained aboard another aircraft that served as a decoy, according to a senior U.S. official familiar with the incident.
The unusual security measure was part of heightened precautions surrounding the president’s travel. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the details involve sensitive presidential security arrangements.
Rubio knew about the aircraft change
According to the official, Rubio was aware that Trump had been moved to another aircraft and understood the circumstances surrounding the security threat. The official did not explain why Rubio nevertheless remained on the original plane.
Bessent was also believed to have had some awareness of the situation, although the official said there was no certainty about how much he knew.
The episode illustrates the significantly different security protocols applied to the president compared with other senior members of the administration.
Heightened security around Trump
Trump’s travel arrangements have received particular attention because of previous attempts on his life. Presidential movements are typically protected by extensive security measures designed to limit potential threats and make it more difficult for adversaries to determine his location.
Moving Trump to a separate aircraft allowed U.S. authorities to reduce the likelihood that the president’s actual travel arrangements could be identified.
The decision also meant that two of the administration’s most senior Cabinet officials continued traveling aboard the original aircraft, effectively allowing it to function as a decoy.
Incident highlights secrecy surrounding presidential travel
Details about the aircraft switch were not publicly disclosed at the time, underscoring the level of secrecy that can surround presidential movements when intelligence agencies identify potential threats.
The incident occurred as Trump attended a NATO summit in Turkey, where discussions involved major international security issues, including the war in Ukraine and tensions involving Iran.
The revelation provides a rare glimpse into the security measures used to protect the president during overseas travel and demonstrates how quickly travel plans can change when officials believe there is a credible threat.
