Reports have emerged that during last month's NATO summit in Turkey, President Donald Trump secretly transferred to a military jet to avoid a credible Iranian missile threat. Meanwhile, White House staff, Secret Service agents, U.S. military members, and journalists remained aboard the decoy aircraft, raising questions about their safety.

The Washington Post initially reported that Trump appeared to board the older Air Force One before switching to the military jet. He later rejoined the group to continue home.

Former Secret Service agent Bill Gage told Fox News that those left on the decoy plane "probably did face an elevated risk," but described the operation as a "calculated response to the threat environment surrounding Trump."

Robert "Bobby" McDonald, a former senior Secret Service official, explained that such deceptive presidential movements, sometimes called "shell games," are unusual but part of the Secret Service's strategy when credible intelligence demands extraordinary measures.

The White House did not respond to Fox News’ inquiries about whether officials assessed risks to those left aboard the decoy plane, which may have included Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It remains unclear what protective measures, if any, were in place for those passengers.

Historically, similar tactics have been used; for example, during President Bill Clinton’s 2000 visit to Pakistan, a marked decoy aircraft arrived first and Secret Service agents disembarked before Clinton landed separately in an unmarked plane.

This incident highlights the complex security decisions involved in protecting the president while balancing risks to others.

Sources