Donald Trump's security team executed a last-minute decoy plan while leaving last month's NATO summit in Turkey after receiving fresh intelligence about threats to his safety. US officials reportedly learned overnight that someone nearby had been spotted with a shoulder-fired missile capable of downing his aircraft, and that Iran knew which floor of his Ankara hotel he was staying on, prompting the Secret Service and military advisers to disguise his movements.

Trump publicly said he would fly home on the older Air Force One "for old times' sake", while the newer jet, donated by Qatar, was sent ahead empty. After boarding the older plane in front of cameras, he was secretly moved via a catering truck onto a Boeing C-32A military jet, travelling with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and aides including Natalie Harp, Walt Nauta and Dan Scavino, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent flew as decoys with other staff. The military jet landed first at RAF Mildenhall in the UK, after which Trump was covertly switched back for a public arrival before boarding the Qatari jet to Washington; he later confirmed he was following Secret Service instructions and downplayed concerns about the missile threat.