"That was up to the Secret Service. I just did what they wanted. I complied with the recommendations of the Secret Service and the military. They wanted me to travel on another plane of comparable safety, and I listened to them," US President Donald Trump told reporters at Andrews Joint Base on 11/8.

His comments followed US media reports, citing informed sources, revealing that President Trump had secretly switched from the VC-25A Air Force One to a C-32A military aircraft while in Turkey last month. Meanwhile, the VC-25A, carrying White House officials, security and support staff, and reporters, departed Turkey as a diversion, guarding against a potential Iranian attack.

US President Donald Trump answers reporters at Andrews Joint Base, Maryland on 11/8. Photo: AFP

"I actually believe the plane I was on was at higher risk, because that was the aircraft more likely to be targeted. I do not trust Iran," the US President added.

Trump arrived in Turkey on 8/7 aboard the VC-25B Bridge Aircraft, a modified Boeing 747-8i nicknamed the "flying palace", gifted to the US by Qatar last year. Before departing Turkey, Trump had announced his desire to use the older, blue-and-white painted VC-25A Air Force One, citing "nostalgia".

However, a US official revealed that Trump publicly boarded the VC-25A's stairs for television cameras, but was secretly escorted off minutes later using an airport catering truck. The truck's compartment was raised to fuselage level by a hydraulic system, connecting a ramp to the aircraft's door opposite the usual entry.

Moment a logistics vehicle reportedly secretly transferred President Trump from Air Force One to another plane in Ankara on 8/7. Video: X/fl360aero

Trump and several close aides then transferred to a nearby C-32A, a military variant of the Boeing 757 typically used for government officials.

The VC-25A Air Force One flew to Mildenhall Air Base in the UK under the call sign "SAM 33", an abbreviation for "special air mission", implying the US President was on board. Throughout the journey, accompanying press corps members were instructed to keep all windows closed, a move considered unusual.

A US official stated the last-minute plane change occurred after US intelligence received "reliable information" that Tehran was planning an assassination attempt against President Trump, following renewed US airstrikes on Iran.

Logistics vehicle connects ramp to Air Force One at Esenboga Airport, Ankara, Turkey, on 8/7. Photo: AFP

The military aircraft carrying Trump landed in the UK around 22h20 on 8/7, with the VC-25A arriving 9 minutes later. Approximately half an hour after that, President Trump appeared before television cameras, descending the stairs of the VC-25A as if nothing unusual had transpired.

The US leader then transferred to the VC-25B Bridge Aircraft for his return to Washington D.C. He spoke with reporters for about 15 minutes, emphasizing the threat from Iran but not mentioning the diversion operation in Turkey.

Huyen Le