President Donald Trump disclosed on Tuesday night, August 11, 2026, that his secret flight out of Turkey last month involved a passenger-filled "decoy" Air Force One and was orchestrated by the Secret Service and the U.S. military. Trump explained the operation was a security measure, stating, "I just follow what they'd like to do," during remarks on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews after a trip to Ohio.

According to reports first published by The Washington Post and confirmed by sources to ABC News, Trump was secretly transferred from the old Air Force One to a military aircraft via a catering container. This elaborate ruse was conducted without the knowledge of the traveling press and some White House officials aboard the decoy flight. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was reportedly on the same plane as the president.

Trump publicly stated at the time that he would be flying on the old Air Force One rather than the new Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet, which he said was being sent to a base in the U.K. for service members to tour. Reflecting on the security rationale, Trump said, "I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk because that would be the plane I think that we -- that they would be more likely to go for."

The White House issued a statement to ABC News emphasizing the security context: "As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent were reportedly on the decoy Air Force One that departed Turkey.

Sources