world 13 August 2026 Nile Post
Trump's Cabinet Left on Decoy Plane Amid Secret Exit from Turkey
High-ranking Trump cabinet members, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, remained on a decoy Air Force One in Turkey after the president secretly departed on a separate aircraft due to security threats. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/363112/members-of-trumps-cabinet-remained-on-decoy-plane-after-presidents-quiet-exit
President Donald Trump reportedly executed a clandestine departure from Turkey last month, leaving key members of his cabinet aboard what they believed to be Air Force One. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, among others, stayed on the initial aircraft, which served as a decoy.
Trump is said to have hidden in a catering truck to be transported to a different military plane. This maneuver was carried out on July 8th, following a period in Turkey where security concerns, including potential threats from shoulder-mounted missile launchers and intelligence leaks regarding his whereabouts to Iran, were heightened.
The designation “Air Force One” technically applies to any aircraft carrying the president. In this instance, the original plane maintained the call signal to deceive any potential adversaries, while Trump traveled on a separate, undisclosed flight. This tactic is a known security procedure, often referred to as a “shell game” by Secret Service personnel, designed to enhance presidential safety during high-risk international trips.
Rubio and Bessent remained on the decoy flight to maintain the line of presidential succession, a measure taken in case of any unforeseen events befalling Trump. Other officials, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and communications director Steven Cheung, also stayed on the initial aircraft. The actual flight carrying Trump included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other staff.
Trump stated that the decision for this deception was made by the U.S. military and Secret Service. While the specifics of the threat remain vague, reports suggest it involved concerns about portable surface-to-air missiles and Iranian awareness of his location. It is unclear how much of this operation was known to the cabinet members and press on the decoy flight.