President Trump took a clandestine flight from the NATO summit on July 8, 2026, while a decoy flight was publicly identified as Air Force One. This event involved several high-profile figures and secretive maneuvers.

Key Figures and Flights

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent were on the decoy flight along with other White House aides such as Stephen Miller and Monica Crowley. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, along with aides Natalie Harp, Walt Nauta, and Dan Scavino, accompanied Mr. Trump on the secret flight from Turkey.

Mr. Trump was secretly transferred from the public Air Force One to a separate, undisclosed plane, reportedly an Air Force C-32A. This operation was partly facilitated by a catering truck.

Reasons for the Secret Switch

The switch was reportedly advised by the Secret Service for security concerns. The president cited the high number of threats he receives as a reason for the switch. He described it as common for “any consequential president.” Despite the security concerns, the press and some staff traveled on the decoy Air Force One, believing the president was on board.

Visual Confirmation and Reports

The secretive nature of the flight was visually confirmed through video footage, which showed Mr. Trump boarding the old Air Force One with a catering truck nearby. After some time, the truck moved, revealing Mr. Trump had switched planes.

The Washington Post first reported on this undisclosed flight, bringing attention to the president’s covert movement.

Operations During the Flight

While in Ankara, members of the press were instructed to keep window shades closed on Air Force One. Upon departure from the U.K., Mr. Trump switched to the newer Air Force One, a jet recently donated by Qatar and modified for presidential use by the U.S. Air Force.

The transition to the new plane involved further security enhancements, as noted by the White House, with Mr. Trump commenting that the upgrades would be fully utilized.