Iran threat prompted Trump to take military plane from NATO Summit

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that a credible Iranian assassination threat prompted the Secret Service to direct him to board a smaller military aircraft instead of Air Force One when he departed the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, July 8.

Trump made the disclosure to reporters traveling with him on a day-trip to Ohio, upon landing at Andrews Air Force Base Tuesday night.

“I go by Secret Service and the military,” Trump said. “They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane — equal safety, but they wanted me to do it, so I do it. I do what they say.”

When asked whether he was surprised by the Secret Service directive, Trump said he was not.

“No. Not surprised. I have a lot of threats. I have a lot of threats. If you don’t know about any consequential president has a lot of threats. Non-consequential presidents don’t get threats. And I think that I may be the most consequential president,” Trump said.

During the departure from Turkey, Trump boarded Air Force One in view of television cameras before being secretly transferred to a smaller military aircraft using an airport catering truck. He then flew to the United Kingdom separately from the White House press corps and senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Ankara is approximately 1,000 miles from Tehran. Iran has missiles capable of traveling 2,500 miles.