Posted on 08/12/2026 9:06:23 PM PDT by McGruff
The two most senior members of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, flew out of last month’s NATO summit in Turkey on what was effectively a decoy plane following an Iranian threat, while Trump was secretly moved to a smaller military jet, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday.
The official, who was briefed on the situation and spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive details of presidential travel, said Rubio was aware of the switch and details of the threat behind it but could or would not say why he had stayed on the plane. The official said Bessent was likely aware but did not know for sure.
The official, however, noted that security precautions for the president - especially one who has been the target of several assassination attempts - are more robust than those for even top members of the Cabinet.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
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This should have reminded secret information until years after Trump’s second term had ended.
The official should be stripped of clearances and pension for starters.
AF1 has defensive measures that should be just fine.
Does anyone care? Other than the people who wish President Trump dead?
“oh, no way, the President switched airplanes” And this is the story?
How about a headline that reads, “President Trump Survives Another Assassination Attempt”?
How hard is that Media??
Iran figured out that the President intended to fly on Air Force One? Couldn’t they figure that out every other time as well?
“ This should have reminded secret information until years after Trump’s second term had ended.”
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I’m not so sure of that. Now in the future enemy actors who are considering such actions KNOW that, even if they succeed in taking out a plane or building where Trump is SUPPOSED to be, they may still fail because Trump is not really there. And Trump would take MASSIVE RETALIATION greater than seen before ALL WITH MASSIVE PUBLIC SUPPORT IN AMERICA.
.
And nothing happened — Just like the alleged sleeper cells.
Think about how little we trust the Turks.
flying on AF1 with Prez has an inherent risk, known or not - period. if press doesn’t want to take it on they can go back to press charters. for this flight 47 ordered it surrounded by escorts.
1) AF-1 would have the greatest on-board defensive measures against an external (to the plane) threat.
2) The Secret Service feared an internal security breach: Thus an enemy (likely Iran) might know of the switch.
Either plane of course could be defended at a very high level by accompanying fighter & intel planes.
It makes a lot of sense to split up the returning party: If the attacker gets President Trump, key members of his cabinet are still alive to work with Vance. Bessent* seems to utterly delight in putting the screws to adversaries, and Rubio by nature is somewhat hawkish, and very capable.
*OT: Per my AI search to confirm: The name "Bessent" is derived from the Middle English word besant, which came from the Old French besan. This term referred to a gold coin originally minted in Byzantium (modern-day Istanbul). Consequently, the surname likely originated as an occupational name for a moneyer, banker, or moneylender who dealt in these coins, or as a nickname for a wealthy individual.
I agree 100%. CNN said “The President lied to us”. Schemer wants all the details...
“And nothing happened — Just like the alleged sleeper cells”
.
“Sleeper cells” are likely building drones WITHIN the US.
Will the White House be a target...?
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