President Donald Trump revealed on Tuesday night that he switched planes in secret during his return from Turkey in July, citing a security threat as the reason for this covert operation. He explained that the decision was made by the Secret Service and the military, who insisted on using a different aircraft for his journey.

“They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane,” Trump stated. “I guess there was a threat out there.” According to NBC News, this maneuver was first reported by The Washington Post. On July 8, after appearing to board Air Force One publicly, Trump discreetly transferred to an unmarked jet with the aid of a catering truck. His flight took him from Ankara to a base in the United Kingdom, while many, including reporters and White House staff, assumed he was on Air Force One.

Addressing reporters, Trump remarked, “I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk. I think it was at greater risk because that would be the plane I think that they would be more likely to go for.” He did not provide further details on why the unmarked C-32 jet, whose call sign did not identify it as Air Force One, seemed like a more vulnerable target.

NBC News reported, according to a U.S. official, that the switch was connected to a new Iranian plan to assassinate Trump, which might have involved a shoulder-fired missile targeting Air Force One while departing Turkey. People left on the decoy aircraft included the media and senior White House officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who are in the presidential line of succession.

Trump noted that he didn’t inquire much about the threat. “I may be the most consequential president,” he stated, mentioning that significant presidents face numerous threats compared to their less influential counterparts.

Congressional Democrats are pushing for a briefing from authorities to provide details about Trump’s flight last month and the security threats surrounding it.