Watch: What is it like to travel on Air Force One with Trump?

August 11, 2026

President Donald Trump reportedly executed a covert plane switch during his departure from a NATO summit in Turkey on July 8th. While video footage showed him boarding the presidential aircraft Air Force One at Ankara airport, he was allegedly transferred to a smaller C-32A military plane (typically used by the vice president) through an elevated catering truck positioned on the opposite side of the aircraft. Journalists and some White House staff members who boarded Air Force One were instructed to close their window shades and remained unaware that the president was no longer traveling with them.

Who is affected

President Donald Trump
Journalists traveling in the press pool
White House staff members
BBC State Department correspondent Tom Bateman

What action is being taken

No explicit ongoing actions stated in the article (the article describes a past event that occurred on July 8th).

Why it matters

This incident is significant because it represents an unusual deviation from standard presidential travel procedures and security protocols. The covert plane switch demonstrates heightened security concerns during presidential travel, and the fact that journalists and staff were kept uninformed raises questions about transparency and typical press access to presidential movements.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC