Trump Secretly Switches Planes in Turkey, Citing Threats

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he secretly switched aircraft during a trip through Turkey, leaving behind journalists who had been traveling with him on the original plane.

The change was revealed after reporters on the abandoned aircraft spoke to the Brazilian television news program Jornal Nacional (JN) about their experience. One journalist described feeling used as 'bait', saying, 'I don't like being used as bait. It's not my favorite choice.'

Trump later addressed the situation directly, confirming that he had switched planes and explaining his reasoning. He said he does not trust Iran and stated that he receives numerous threats against his personal safety.

The move appears to have been a precautionary security measure, though the exact circumstances that prompted the sudden switch were not detailed in official statements.

Presidential travel typically involves complex logistics, with journalists sometimes flying separately from the president's main aircraft. This case has drawn renewed attention to how such arrangements are managed and how transparent officials are with the press about last-minute changes affecting safety or routing.

JN's coverage centered on the reaction of the journalists who were left on the original plane, capturing their surprise and frustration at being unexpectedly separated from the presidential delegation without prior warning.

The incident adds to a broader pattern of Trump publicly discussing threats against him, a topic he has referenced multiple times regarding his personal security. His comments about distrust of Iran also reflect ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran, though no further specifics were given about the nature of these particular concerns.

As of the report, no additional information had been released about the total duration of the delay experienced by the journalists or the broader itinerary of the trip following the plane switch.