Donald Trump switches aircraft amid credible missile threat during NATO summit

On July 8, 2026, the final day of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, US President Donald Trump was quietly moved from one aircraft to another after intelligence agencies detected a credible threat involving a shoulder-fired missile targeting his plane. The Secret Service and military coordinated the switch in real time, boarding Trump onto a smaller C-32A government jet while the newer Boeing 747-8 that had been serving as his interim presidential transport flew separately, effectively acting as a decoy. The details of the operation didn’t surface publicly until more than a month later, around August 11-12, when reports of the covert maneuver emerged. Trump himself confirmed the incident shortly after, saying he had followed the guidance of his security detail and the military. How the switch actually worked According to reporting on the incident, Trump was moved to the C-32A, a modified Boeing 757 commonly used for vice presidential travel and smaller presidential missions, while his plane was shielded from public view. A catering truck was used as cover during the transfer, blocking the sight line from potential observers. Meanwhile, the Boeing 747-8 continued on a separate fligh...