12.08.2026 07:30
US President Donald Trump confirmed that he secretly left Turkey on a different military aircraft last month due to a possible assassination threat originating from Iran. Trump said, "It's entirely up to the Secret Service. I just do what they tell me."
U.S. President Donald Trump has officially confirmed that last month, while returning from Turkey, he secretly switched planes on the instructions of the Secret Service due to an assassination threat originating from Iran.
Responding to journalists' questions about the film-like security operation, which was uncovered by the Washington Post newspaper and dominated the world agenda, the U.S. President made striking statements. Noting that he thought the plane he was on was more exposed to danger than the "decoy" aircraft used to confuse targets during the operation, Trump said, "Actually, I think the plane I flew on was at greater risk. Because I think that's the plane they were more likely to target."
"I DO WHATEVER THE SECRET SERVICE AND THE MILITARY SAY"
Emphasizing that the covert operation and the decision to switch planes were not his initiative but were carried out entirely within security procedures, Trump said the following about the process:
"It's completely up to the Secret Service. I just follow whatever they say. So I follow the guidance of the Secret Service and the military. They asked me to go on a different plane, and that was an equivalent option in terms of security."
"THERE WAS A THREAT, I DIDN'T ASK TOO MANY QUESTIONS"
Pointing out that he faces security threats not only from Iran but from many different sources and regions, the U.S. President said he did not ask authorities too many questions during the operation in Turkey. Trump summarized his trust in security forces with these words:
"They asked me to do it, and I did it. I do whatever they say. I think there was a threat. I didn't ask too many questions about it. I receive a lot of threats."
A FILM-LIKE ESCAPE OPERATION IN TURKEY
The high tension between U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran brought unprecedented security measures. It emerged that while returning from the NATO summit held in Turkey last month, Trump implemented an escape plan worthy of movie scenes due to a missile threat originating from Iran.
Sending media members and a large part of White House staff with the presidential plane, Air Force One (a 747-type jet), Trump effectively used this aircraft as a "decoy." This striking operation, in which Trump was secretly transported to another plane via a catering truck, revealed how seriously U.S. security agencies took the Iranian threat.
ASSASSINATION THREATS
At the root of Iran's anger toward Trump lies the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the leader of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in January 2020. Following this event, the Tehran administration, which swore revenge, not only issued warnings but also took concrete steps.
In July, the arrest of Pakistani national Asif Merchant, linked to the Revolutionary Guards, on charges of plotting to assassinate Trump, and subsequent cases against Afghan citizen Farhad Shakeri, proved the extent of the danger. The assassination attempts Trump survived in Pennsylvania and Florida in 2024 have kept the security apparatus around the U.S. President on constant alert.
"WE WILL KILL YOU" MESSAGE TO TRUMP
Although Trump tries to project the image of a strong leader, the psychological effects of the Iranian threat are increasingly coming to the surface. A White House official speaking to the news site Semafor said that Trump makes jokes about being a constant target, such as "Nobody told me how dangerous it is to be president. If they had told me, I probably wouldn't have run," but noted there is a great deal of truth beneath this.
Meanwhile, messages from the Iranian side are extremely clear. In a giant mural hung in a square in Tehran in recent days, Trump was depicted in a black coffin, with "We will kill Trump" and "Blood for blood" written beneath it.
"IF I GO, YOU GO TOO"
In the face of the growing crisis, harsh warnings from the U.S. side were not delayed. Trump announced that 1,000 missiles, unlocked and ready to fire, were waiting in response to Iran's threats. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized U.S. determination with the words, "Iran tried to kill President Trump, and President Trump had the last laugh."
However, the striking dialogue between Trump, at the center of the crisis, and journalists summarized the gravity of the situation. During that tense return journey from Turkey, where even the window shades of the plane used as a "decoy" were closed during takeoff, Trump turned to the journalists sharing the same plane and made the following remarkable statement:
"I keep reading that I'm the number one name on their list. But if I go, you go too, right?"