CIA doubted Iran threat behind Trump plane switch

WASHINGTON: US intelligence officials had doubts about the credibility of an alleged Iranian threat against President Donald Trump that triggered an extraordinary security operation during his departure from Türkiye last month, according to a Washington Post report.

The revelation adds a new twist to the dramatic episode in which Trump was secretly moved from an aircraft at Ankara airport and flown to Britain aboard a smaller military jet while another aircraft was used as a decoy.

The Washington Post, citing current and former US officials familiar with the intelligence, reported that CIA analysts did not consider information provided by Israel sufficiently compelling. The analysts reportedly communicated their reservations to officials in the Trump administration.

The intelligence was described by one US official as Israeli-derived rather than US-generated and assessed with “low confidence”, according to the report. The CIA has declined to comment publicly.

Despite the doubts, the US Secret Service decided that the potential danger justified extraordinary precautions. Trump’s security team has faced several serious incidents during his presidency and officials have stressed that they were unwilling to take unnecessary risks.

The unusual operation unfolded after Trump attended the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8. According to reports, the president was initially expected to leave Türkiye aboard Air Force One. Instead, he was covertly transferred to a C-32A military aircraft through an airport catering truck.

Trump and a small group of close aides then travelled to Britain’s Mildenhall air base, with fighter jets providing protection. Meanwhile, the regular presidential aircraft continued as part of a carefully planned deception.

The operation has attracted considerable attention because it involved not only a change of aircraft but also secrecy from journalists and some senior officials travelling with the presidential delegation. The Washington Post reported that close Trump aides Dan Scavino, Natalie Harp and Walt Nauta accompanied him during the covert transfer, while no Cabinet officials did.

The White House has defended the decision, saying Trump faces numerous threats, including threats linked to Iran, and that the Secret Service’s primary responsibility is protecting the president.

Trump himself said the decision to use another plane was made by the Secret Service and that he followed its instructions. Reuters also reported that US officials considered the threat serious enough to warrant the covert aircraft switch.

The intelligence dispute has nevertheless raised broader questions about the information shared between Israel and Washington. Some current and former US intelligence officials reportedly believe Israeli reporting can sometimes be intended not only to warn American leaders but also to influence policy decisions.

The episode comes amid heightened tensions between Washington, Israel and Iran, making intelligence assessments particularly sensitive. It also highlights the difficult balance between acting quickly on potential threats and determining how reliable those threats actually are.

For the Trump administration, the incident has now become more than a story about an unusual plane switch. It has raised questions about intelligence credibility, presidential security and the influence of foreign-provided information on US decision-making.