Retired Air Force Lt Col Robert “Buzz” Patterson, who carried the nuclear “football” for Bill Clinton, praised a recent Air Force One decoy operation in Turkey intended to protect President Donald Trump from a potential attack. He said such “shell game” tactics are not unprecedented, but warned that disclosure of their methods could endanger current and future presidents, their crews and accompanying journalists.

Patterson suggested the person who revealed details of the operation was likely highly placed, saying that aspect “scares the hell out of me”. The operation reportedly took place as Air Force One departed Ankara, Turkey, and involved decoy measures designed to obscure the president’s movements.