Donald Trump was transferred from a Qatari‑gifted jet to an older Air Force One and then to a smaller C‑32A using a catering truck at Ankara airport, according to a report by the Washington Post. The maneuver was ordered after U.S. officials flagged an Iranian plot that could have targeted the president's aircraft on the way home from the NATO summit.
Operation in Ankara
Trump arrived in Turkey on a red, white and navy blue Boeing 747‑800 that had been presented by Qatar. Minutes before departure, he boarded a legacy Air Force One painted baby blue in front of cameras. The White House then moved him to a catering vehicle that normally carries meals for flights. Inside the truck he was transferred to a military C‑32A, a smaller jet used for short‑range trips.
After the switch, the C‑32A flew the president to Royal Air Force Mildenhall in England. Once on the ground, Trump was seen exiting the older Air Force One, suggesting he had remained on that aircraft for the entire leg. The Associated Press and the New York Times previously reported that U.S. intelligence had warned of a credible threat to the president or his plane, prompting the decision to avoid the Qatari jet for the first segment of the return flight.
Implications for Canadian security protocols
Canada, as a NATO member, routinely hosts high‑ranking officials and military leaders at joint events. The episode underscores the level of precaution that may be required when credible threats emerge in volatile regions. Canadian diplomatic and defence officials could review their own travel‑security procedures, especially for missions that involve multiple aircraft or stopovers in areas of heightened tension.
White House communications director Steven Cheung said the United States uses every tool at its disposal to protect the president from enemies. Former Secret Service special agent Paul Eckloff described the operation as unusual but not unprecedented, noting that actionable intelligence can drive rapid changes in flight plans.
The incident follows a series of U.S. missile strikes on Iran after attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a development that also concerns Canadian shipping interests in the region. As Canada maintains close defence ties with the United States, any escalation could affect joint naval patrols and the security of Canadian‑flagged ships.
Based on reporting by Global News.