Trump Secretly Switches Planes in Turkey, Citing Threats
Listen to the story
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he secretly switched planes while traveling in Turkey, without informing the journalists who were traveling with him.
Reporters had been on the original aircraft, which was later described as being 'abandoned' by Trump once he moved to another plane.
One journalist told the Brazilian TV news program Jornal Nacional (JN) that being left behind felt like being used as bait. 'I don't like being used as bait. It's not my favorite choice,' she said.
Trump later confirmed the plane switch himself. He explained that he does not trust Iran and mentioned that he regularly receives many threats against his safety.
The switch appears to have been made as a security measure, though details about the exact reasons remain limited.
Journalists who cover the US president often travel with him on official trips, sometimes on separate aircraft from his own. This incident has drawn attention to how such trips are organized and how press members are informed — or not informed — of last-minute changes.
JN's report focused on the experience of the journalists left on the original plane, highlighting their reaction to being unexpectedly separated from the president's group.
No further details were given about how long the journalists were delayed or what happened after the plane switch.
Vocabulary10 words
- 'abandoned'
- left behind without help
- Jornal Nacional
- name of a Brazilian TV news program
- bait
- something used to trick or trap someone
- trust
- to believe someone is honest or safe
- threats
- warnings that someone may cause harm
- security
- actions taken to stay safe from danger
- press
- journalists and news reporters as a group
- confirm
- to say officially that something is true
- aircraft
- another word for an airplane
- official trip
- a journey made for government work
Quiz
Answer key
1. He secretly changed planes 2. Because she was left on the original plane Trump abandoned 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he secretly switched _____ while traveling in Turkey, without informing the journalists who were traveling with him.
Reporters had been on the original aircraft, which was later described as being _____ by Trump once he moved to another plane.
One journalist told the Brazilian TV news program Jornal Nacional (JN) that being left behind felt like being used as _____.
'I don't like being used as bait. It's not my favorite _____,' she said.
Trump later confirmed the plane switch himself. He explained that he does not _____ Iran.
He mentioned that he regularly receives many _____ against his safety.
The switch appears to have been made as a _____ measure, though details about the exact reasons remain limited.
This incident has drawn attention to how such trips are organized and how _____ members are informed of last-minute changes.
Discussion questions
- Why might a president change planes secretly during a trip?
- How do you think journalists felt when they realized they had been left behind?
- Do you think leaders should always inform the press about security changes? Why or why not?
- What responsibilities do journalists have when covering political leaders on official trips?