President Donald Trump was secretly moved off Air Force One and onto another aircraft via a catering truck on July 8 in Ankara, Turkey, following an Israeli intelligence tip about a potential Iranian assassination plot, according to multiple sources.
US intelligence agencies initially assessed the threat as not credible, raising doubts about the validity of the Israeli-derived intelligence before the Secret Service executed the covert transfer. The operation occurred as Trump departed the NATO summit in Ankara, with officials citing an abundance of caution despite skepticism from CIA analysts.
The intelligence suggesting a plot to target Air Force One with a shoulder-fired missile originated from Israeli officials, who shared the information with the US as Trump prepared to leave Turkey. Israeli authorities had not fully vetted the intelligence before passing it to American counterparts, according to sources cited by ABC News.
Immediate Actions and Official Responses
The Secret Service confirmed the transfer but declined to comment on the specific threat assessment or intelligence sources. A spokesperson for the agency stated that operational security prevents disclosure of protective measures taken for the president.
US intelligence officials, including those within the CIA, described the Israeli-derived intelligence as low confidence and not generated by American agencies. Despite this, the Secret Service proceeded with the covert transfer as a precautionary measure.
Context and Background
The operation unfolded amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, with reports indicating that Iranian officials have explored assassination plots targeting Trump since 2018. Military experts cited by the Daily Mail suggested that while the possibility of such an attack exists, the probability remains uncertain.
Retired US Marine Corps interrogator and counterintelligence specialist Jonathan Hackett noted that a successful operation would require a permissive environment and potential internal collaboration. However, he emphasized that the gap between possibility and probability can vary widely in such scenarios.
Contrasting Assessments of the Threat
Sources differ on the credibility of the threat. US intelligence officials, including those from the CIA, viewed the Israeli intelligence as low confidence and questioned its reliability. In contrast, military experts and some analysts have since argued that the risk was plausible given Iran’s history of hostile actions against US officials.
The Secret Service’s decision to act on the intelligence, despite reservations from other agencies, underscores the challenges of balancing operational security with public transparency. The move also highlights the complexities of relying on foreign intelligence in high-stakes security decisions.
Timeline and Logistics
The covert transfer occurred on July 8, shortly after Trump concluded his participation in the NATO summit. The president was moved from Air Force One to another aircraft via a catering truck, a method described as inconspicuous to avoid detection. The operation was completed before Trump’s departure from Turkey.
Air Force One, a Qatari-gifted aircraft, had recently been introduced for presidential travel, adding another layer of operational sensitivity to the transfer. The new aircraft’s presence at the summit in Ankara was part of a diplomatic gesture from Qatar, though its use in the covert operation was not publicly disclosed at the time.