Trump changes aircraft in Turkey during NATO summit, cabinet remains on decoy plane

Former President Donald J. Trump switched to an alternate aircraft while attending the NATO summit in Istanbul, Turkey, after U.S. officials cited heightened security concerns linked to Iran’s regional activities. The change was coordinated by the Secret Service and the Department of State, which determined that the original flight plan could expose the delegation to potential threats amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran over recent Iranian missile tests and diplomatic disputes.

The new plane, a military‑grade transport, departed from Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport on Thursday and will return the former president to the United States after the summit concludes on Saturday. Officials emphasized that the adjustment was a precautionary measure and did not affect Trump’s participation in the summit’s scheduled meetings. The move underscores the broader security challenges faced by NATO members as they navigate Iran’s increasingly assertive posture in the region.