The unusual actions involving the departure of U.S. President Donald Trump from a plane in Turkey last month, without the knowledge of reporters and White House staff, are unprecedented in modern history and have raised questions.
After attending a NATO summit in Ankara, Trump was secretly moved from Air Force One to a military aircraft using a catering truck due to an alleged Iranian assassination threat, as per reports from U.S. media outlets.
The White House did not inform anyone about this transfer, keeping it under wraps even though reporters and White House staff were still on Air Force One. The news only came to light when the Washington Post broke the story on Monday.
Trump, revealing that he acted based on instructions from the U.S. Secret Service, was accompanied by several close aides on the smaller military plane.
Former CIA director John Brennan, a vocal critic of Trump, insisted that the White House had an “ethical obligation” to inform the press pool about the situation.
“None of the presidents I served under would have allowed the White House staff and a plane full of journalists to remain if the threat had not been adequately addressed,” Brennan stated.
‘For old time’s sake’
During the summit, Trump initially used a newly refurbished jet donated by Qatar but decided to switch to the older Air Force One for nostalgia before heading to the U.K. This move raised eyebrows among the press, given Trump’s past criticisms of the two Air Force One planes in service since 1990.
The trip to Ankara marked the new plane’s first overseas journey after quick upgrades, sparking concerns about its cost and security.
New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman mentioned the possibility of an off-the-record discussion with the press regarding the arrangements that kept them off Air Force One.
She recalled a similar incident in 2000 when a reporter honored confidentiality for 25 years before revealing the details following recent events.
Susan Page from USA Today recounted a similar incident during President Bill Clinton’s term in 2000 when he used an unmarked executive jet while Air Force One was deployed as a decoy.
She highlighted the stringent security measures taken due to flying risks, which also posed threats to the journalists covering the trip.
It remains unclear if the Trump administration considered a similar strategy, given its strained relationship with various media organizations.
The administration faced criticism for attempting to subpoena Haberman’s colleagues at the Times over their report on security concerns related to the Qatari jet. The government backed down following a court hearing where a judge reprimanded them for threatening reporters.
Although unsettling, Haberman expressed uncertainty if the reporters were genuinely at risk. The traditional Air Force One undergoes thorough security checks and is equipped with advanced defense systems to counter missile threats, but their effectiveness remains uncertain.
Trump hinted that the decoy plane might have offered better security compared to the U.S. air force C-32A that he used for his England trip. It is unknown if the press plane received any military escort.
Democrats seek clarification
While there is no legal requirement to disclose the president’s exact location at all times, the press usually has insight into the daily schedule.
An exception was during the 9/