The New York Times news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Trump secretly left Air Force One in Turkey amid an Iranian threat, using a decoy. The ruse concealed his travel, contradicting public statements.
Background
The New York Times and Washington Post reported that President Trump was covertly removed from Air Force One during a trip to Turkey after officials learned of a threat against him from Iran. The White House had said he was aboard the plane, but he was actually whisked off into a catering container and put on a military jet, while staff and journalists were used as decoys.
How it unfolded
- Jul 8, 2026Trump departs Turkey on Air Force One, but secretly leaves the plane amid an Iranian threat; a decoy plane continues to Britain.
- Aug 10, 2026The Washington Post publishes an exclusive report revealing the secret flight and the ruse, contradicting public statements.
- Aug 14, 2026The New York Times publishes an insider account of how it reported the story, and its weekly news quiz includes a question about the event.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The White House had said the president was aboard Air Force One as he left the NATO summit, but later confirmed the secret flight due to the threat.
Still unverified
The specific nature of the Iranian threat and the exact details of the decoy operation are based on anonymous senior U.S. officials and have not been independently confirmed.