Trump Switched Planes After Iranian Threat

President Donald Trump secretly switched aircraft after US and Turkish intelligence intercepted what officials described as a credible Iranian threat to target the presidential plane with a surface-to-air missile following last month's NATO summit in Ankara.

After publicly boarding an older Air Force One in front of television cameras, Trump was quietly transferred in an airport catering truck to a smaller US Air Force aircraft. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accompanied him on the flight.

The original aircraft continued along its planned route carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House officials and members of the press. Rubio was aware that Trump had switched planes, while some White House staff and journalists were not. Reports differ on whether Bessent was informed before departure.

US officials described the operation as a deliberate deception designed to conceal the president's movements rather than expose other passengers to greater danger. Trump later said the Secret Service and the military had requested the change and that he followed their recommendation.

(cbsnews, bak)