Trump used reporters, own staff as ‘decoys’ in Air Force One ruse
Journalists are demanding answers after the White House press corps were unwittingly used as decoys following an assassination threat against Donald Trump.
The reporters as well as Trump administration staffers flew on Air Force One after US intelligence received a tip that Iran could target Trump on a flight from Turkiye on July 8.
Donald Trump boarded Air Force One, then immediately walked into this catering truck for a secret exit. AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Trump boarded Air Force One before immediately climbing into a catering container and surreptitiously exiting the plane.
He then flew to the UK for a stopover on a military jet.
Reporters were not told they were in any danger but were instructed without explanation to keep their window shades in the cabin closed on board the flight.
The ruse has drawn the ire of journalists after the press corps was put in harm’s way to protect the president.
“Obviously the life of the president is paramount, and previous White Houses have used deception to protect the president’s life,” CNN anchor Jake Tapper said.
“But no officials I’ve spoken to have ever before heard of using an (Air Force One) full of (White House) staff and journalists as a decoy during an imminent threat.”
After landing in the UK on the military jet, he then boarded Air Force One again so he could be seen disembarking.
Elected Democrats have lambasted the president’s move.
“He put people in harm’s way to save himself. That’s who Donald Trump is,” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said.
“He slinked away literally in a catering truck while the reporters and his own staff were on a plane that apparently was under threat.”
Donald Trump then secretly boarded Air Force One in the UK to make a public descent. AP
It is not known whether any additional security measures were taken to protect Air Force One when the president was not aboard.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal demanded a congressional briefing on the incident.
“I want to know what precautions were taken to make sure that all of the passengers on that Air Force One, which was judged too dangerous for the president to fly on, what precautions were taken to keep the staff and reporters on that plane safe?” Blumenthal said.
The White House has not made any official comments about the switch. When asked directly by reporters, Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not answer.
President Donald Trump is accused of using reporters as decoys as he boarded a secret plane. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Trump also has not commented, though he has posted prolifically on Truth Social overnight.
At the time of the plane switch, he talked of Iran seeking to assassinate him.
“I’m number 1 on the kill list for Iran,” Trump replied.
“I’m on every single one of their lists, and so far I guess I’ve been a little bit lucky, but that maybe doesn’t last very long, because that’s the way it goes.”
The White House has not gone into any detail about the nature of any threats against Trump.
Though as he played golf yesterday at his club in Bedminster, New Jersey, he was accompanied by an Avenger short-range air defence system.
The airspace above the golf course was restricted as Trump played, with F-16 jets intercepting two general aviation aircraft over the area.
He has also been seen using a heavily armoured golf cart.
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