President Donald Trump waves while boarding Air Force One in Ankara, Turkey, shortly before takeoff, on July 8, 2026. It was later revealed that Trump surreptitiously left the plane and made the journey in another aircraft. (The White House/Daniel Torok)

How Donald Trump Snuck Out of Turkey

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After publicly boarding Air Force One, the president left Turkey in a separate plane—traveling between the two aircraft hidden in a catering truck.

There is more to the story about why and how President Donald Trump changed plans and planes for his ride home from Turkey last month. It didn’t exactly have the makings of a geopolitical thriller by the late Tom Clancy, however.

It was previously reported that Trump flew to the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, in the Qatari-donated 747-8 jet that was hastily renovated to serve as “Air Force One.” Then Trump reportedly flew out of the Turkish capital aboard the White House’s older VC-25A aircraft, which at the time the real estate developer turned politician claimed was merely for old time’s sake, so that the new aircraft could be presented to service members in the UK.

It was revealed in the days that followed that the United States Secret Service had urged the change, as the Qatari........

© The National Interest