Trump's Secret Plane Switch: An Israeli Tip, CIA Doubts & Reporters Put at Risk
Democracy Now!
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Video Summary
President Trump secretly switched planes during a July departure from Turkey, utilizing a third, undisclosed aircraft to evade a potential Iranian assassination threat. This covert operation, revealed by The Washington Post, involved shuttling the president and aides in a catering truck to the secret plane while the press corps was asked to lower their shades, potentially exposing them to greater risk on the decoy flight. The move followed an intelligence tip from Israel about the threat, which the CIA reportedly assessed with low confidence, leaving the Secret Service in a difficult position. This incident differs from past decoy operations, as the press and senior officials were not informed and the secrecy was maintained for a month, sparking concerns from the White House Correspondents Association about press safety and independent coverage.
Short Highlights
- President Trump secretly used a third, undisclosed plane to depart Turkey, evading a reported Iranian assassination threat.
- The CIA assessed the Iranian threat intelligence from Israel with low confidence, complicating the Secret Service's decision-making.
- The covert operation involved moving Trump and aides via catering truck to the secret aircraft, while the press remained on a decoy plane.
- This secret maneuver differed from past decoy operations by maintaining secrecy for a month and not informing the press corps.
- Concerns were raised by the White House Correspondents Association regarding press safety and the preservation of independent coverage.
- The incident occurred amidst broader concerns about dwindling U.S. munitions, particularly specific types like Tomahawk and Patriot missiles.
Key Details
Secret Plane Switch Amidst Threat [0:00]
- President Trump secretly switched planes before departing a NATO summit in Turkey on July 8th.
- He initially announced he would use a gifted Qatari plane but then opted for the older Air Force One.
- However, he secretly departed on a third, undisclosed plane after being shuttled in an airport catering truck.
"The press was asked to lower their shades before the operation, presumably, so they would not see the President's exit."
Intelligence Assessment and Secret Service Dilemma [2:15]
- The intelligence regarding an Iranian assassination threat against Trump originated from Israel and was shared with the CIA.
- The CIA reportedly had low confidence in the credibility of this intelligence.
- This assessment placed the Secret Service in a difficult position regarding the "zero-fail mission" to protect the president.
"The Israelis passed a tip, a concern that the plane and potentially the president was under threat."
Press Safety and White House Correspondents' Concerns [4:05]
- Reporters on the decoy flight were potentially put at greater risk due to the secrecy of the operation.
- The White House Correspondents Association president met with officials to convey concerns about press safety and independent coverage.
- A protocol is sought to balance Secret Service threat response with press safety and the ability to correct the record.
"I asked the White House to work with us on a protocol that recognizes the Secret Service's responsibility to respond to genuine threats while protecting press safety, preserving independent coverage of the president, and providing a mechanism to correct the record after the fact when necessary."
Historical Context and Secrecy Contrast [5:30]
- Past decoy operations, like President Clinton's in Pakistan in 2000, involved informing key press figures and quickly revealing the decoy.
- The Trump incident was marked by a month of secrecy, only coming to light through news reporting.
- The White House had previously subpoenaed reporters over leaks about the Qatari plane's safety features, which were later dropped.
"But I think the most significant difference here is that in that case, moments after landing, President Clinton popped out of the other plane, and it became very apparent what had happened."
