Trump secretly exited Air Force One via catering truck amid Iran threat after NATO summit
ABC News reported on a Washington Post story revealing that during President Trump's departure from the July 2026 NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, he publicly boarded the older Air Force One before secretly exiting via a side door into an airport catering truck that drove him to a smaller military jet (C-32A). Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly flew with him on the alternate aircraft; the decoy plane carried reporters who were told to close window shades and had tracking systems disabled. The operation followed a credible Iranian assassination threat against Trump, which he referenced publicly at the summit. The segment noted historical precedents like Clinton's unmarked flight into Pakistan and included the White House statement acknowledging ongoing threats and use of all available tools. Sourcing relied primarily on the Washington Post investigation (including visual tracking of the truck) and New York Times confirmation via a senior U.S. official; no on-camera administration guests appeared, but a Secret Service expert provided context on protective tactics.
Source: ABC News