CIA Had 'Low Confidence' in Iran Threat Before Trump's Turkey Aircraft Switch

US intelligence officials reportedly had low confidence in an alleged Iranian threat against President Donald Trump before he was secretly transferred to another aircraft while leaving Turkey following the NATO Summit last month, according to The Washington Post. The warning was reportedly passed to the CIA by Israel. However, CIA analysts questioned its credibility and informed Trump administration officials that the intelligence was considered weak. One US official described it as “Israeli-derived, not US-generated, and viewed as low confidence.”

Despite those reservations, the US Secret Service launched an extensive security operation as Trump departed Ankara on July 8. Trump initially boarded a traditional Air Force One aircraft before being discreetly transferred to a US Air Force C-32A. He was reportedly moved to the second aircraft using an airport catering truck and later flew to Britain with a small group of aides.

The operation was driven by broader security concerns, including uncertainty over whether the newer Boeing 747-8 aircraft gifted to the United States by Qatar had adequate security protections for the journey. US officials defended the decision, saying Trump has faced multiple threats and that the Secret Service would not take unnecessary risks. One official noted that the agency had experienced several security incidents involving the president and therefore chose to take every possible precaution.

Concerns about potential Iranian attempts to target Trump and other senior US officials have continued since the 2020 US strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Quds Force. According to the report, those concerns became more intense following the deaths of senior Iranian officials during the conflict earlier this year. The aircraft carrying Trump from Ankara to RAF Mildenhall in Britain was reportedly escorted by F-16 fighter jets. Trump later said the aircraft change was entirely the Secret Service’s decision, adding that he simply followed their security instructions.

The Washington Post also reported that some US intelligence officials believed Israel’s warning may have had a broader purpose beyond simply alerting Washington. They suspected the intelligence could have been intended to influence Trump’s decisions and US policy toward the region. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was reportedly briefed on both the Israeli intelligence and the Secret Service’s planned security operation.