President Donald Trump left Turkey secretly at the end of an early July NATO summit in Ankara following a credible threat against Air Force One, according to two U.S. officials cited by the New York Times. American intelligence had gathered multiple sources indicating a specific threat of a surface-to-air missile attack on the presidential aircraft, and a person carrying a portable missile was spotted near the summit. Iranian officials, according to the sources, possessed precise information about Trump's location in Ankara, including the floor of his accommodation. On 8 July, as Trump prepared for his final day at the NATO summit, the Secret Service initiated a covert operation to remove him from the country.
The extraction was staged as an elaborate security operation. Trump initially boarded the distinctive blue Boeing 747 Air Force One in full view of cameras and journalists. He was then secretly transferred via an airport catering vehicle to a smaller Air Force C-32A military aircraft, which flew him to Britain. Key administration figures travelled on the C-32A, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Stephen Miller (Trump's chief domestic policy adviser), and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung. Once in Britain, Trump was transferred back to the original Air Force One, then flew to the new Air Force One gifted by Qatar for the final leg to Washington, creating the appearance of a routine presidential return.
Speaking weeks later, Trump told journalists: "I receive many threats. Many threats of which you are not aware. Whoever has an important role must face many threats. Whoever counts for nothing is not threatened. I believe I am the main target." He explained that the Secret Service had made the decision to modify travel plans and that he simply followed their instructions.
Testo Originale / Source Text
“Un missile terra-aria contro l'Air Force One e informazioni precise sul luogo in cui Donald Trump alloggiava ad Ankara, fino al piano dell'edificio. È questo lo scenario che, secondo due funzionari statunitensi citati dal New York Times, avrebbe spinto il presidente americano a lasciare in segreto…”
Read the full article in Italian at Il Messaggero – Roma.
