--- title: "Trump flew on secret jet after Iran threat, decoy Air Force One used" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-flew-on-secret-jet-after-iran-threat-decoy-air-force-one-used" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/trump-flew-on-secret-jet-after-iran-threat-decoy-air-force-one-used" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-flew-on-secret-jet-after-iran-threat-decoy-air-force-one-used.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/trump-flew-on-secret-jet-after-iran-threat-decoy-air-force-one-used" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-13T02:05:26.781Z" source_reported: "2026-08-12T21:48:11.920Z" updated: "2026-08-13T03:30:11.200Z" trust_score: 62 critic_score: 58 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-13T04:41:41.515Z" --- # Trump flew on secret jet after Iran threat, decoy Air Force One used *US officials confirmed a missile threat led to Trump switching planes mid-flight from Turkey to the UK* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 62 of 100, higher is better. Corriere Della Sera names sources on the record. - Craft 58 of 100, higher is better. Most outlets lack direct quotes. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Some outlets sensationalize the threat. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Intelligence identified a credible Iranian missile threat against Donald Trump during his return from a NATO summit in Turkey on 8 July 2026. - Trump boarded Air Force One publicly but was moved to a secret military jet mid-flight, while a decoy plane carried officials and journalists to the UK. - The decoy Air Force One was escorted by US fighter jets, as confirmed by a senior administration official. - Trump initially denied any security concerns but later confirmed the threat, saying he followed his security team’s advice. Donald Trump was moved from Air Force One to a separate military jet during his return from a NATO summit in Turkey on 8 July 2026. The switch followed intelligence indicating a credible Iranian missile threat against the former president. Trump boarded Air Force One in front of cameras in Istanbul but was later taken by service elevator to a van, then to a nearby military aircraft for the flight to the UK. A decoy Air Force One, carrying officials and journalists, flew separately. Those on board included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and several Trump advisers. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Trump flew on the secret jet. US fighter jets escorted the decoy plane, a senior administration official told Fox News. Trump initially denied any security concerns on 8 July, calling questions about the plane switch "strange" and insisting there was no problem. After reports emerged, he confirmed the threat, saying he did not ask many questions and followed his security team’s advice. Corriere Della Sera reported that Trump had earlier claimed he was swapping planes as a tribute to military personnel. ## What the reports agree on All six outlets reported that a decoy Air Force One was used due to a credible Iranian missile threat. Corriere Della Sera, Fox News, RedState, and Twitchy confirmed that Trump was moved to a separate jet. Corriere Della Sera and RedState named Rubio and Bessent as passengers on the decoy plane, while Hegseth flew with Trump. Fox News reported the decoy was escorted by US fighter jets. ## What the coverage left out No left-rated outlet ran this story. None of the right-rated digests mentioned that Trump initially denied any security concerns, a detail reported by Corriere Della Sera. None of the right-rated digests named Iran as the source of the threat. ## Who covered it Shares of the 8 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 37% (3) - Right: 63% (5) 1 of 9 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-13T04:41:41.515Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 8 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-13T04:45:52.195Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated outlets agreed that President Donald Trump left Turkey on a separate jet after an Iranian threat, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remained on a decoy Air Force One. The Associated Press reported that Rubio was aware of the switch, though it was unclear if Bessent knew. All digests noted the presence of journalists and White House staff on the decoy flight. - The New Republic and Atlanta Black Star led on who Trump left behind, naming advisor Stephen Miller, Communications Director Steven Cheung, and press corps members alongside Rubio and Bessent. The Independent and Raw Story quoted criticism of the decision, including accusations that Trump endangered others. Mediaite and the Irish Examiner focused on the risk to reporters and staff on the decoy plane. - The Associated Press report described Trump’s transfer as a covert operation involving a catering cart, a detail omitted from all digests. None of the digests mentioned the constitutional line of succession or the Secret Service’s role in the decision, both included in the AP’s full account. The Toronto Star, Seattle Times, and Washingtonian digests did not name any passengers beyond Rubio and Bessent. ### Centre - Corriere Della Sera led on the Iranian missile threat as the reason for the decoy plane. It detailed the sequence: Trump boarding Air Force One publicly, then being moved to a van and a separate military jet. The report named Rubio, Bessent, and Hegseth, and listed Trump advisers on the decoy plane. It quoted Trump’s later confirmation of the threat and noted his initial denial of any security concerns. - The report described the decoy plane as a potential "mobile target" and explained the security rationale for separating the president and key officials. It included Trump’s social media post about swapping planes as a tribute to military personnel, which Corriere Della Sera called misleading in light of the later revelations. ### Right - The four right-rated digests led on different aspects of the security operation. Fox News reported the decoy Air Force One was escorted by US fighter jets, quoting a senior administration official. RedState named Rubio as a passenger on the decoy plane and Hegseth as flying with Trump. Twitchy framed the story as media overreach, saying outlets had "overdramatized" the threat. - None of the right-rated digests mentioned Trump’s initial denial of security concerns. None named the Iranian threat as the reason for the decoy plane. Handelsblatt’s digest did not mention the decoy plane at all, instead grouping the story with unrelated US news. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 3 - high: 3 - unknown: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [EL ESPAÑOL](https://elespanol.com/mundo/america/20260813/controvertida-evacuacion-air-force-one-trump-escapo-camion-catering-sequito-dejando-rubio-bordo/1003744350975_0.html) — The Controversial Evacuation of Air Force One: Trump Escaped in a Catering Truck with His Entourage Leaving Rubio on Board - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/rubio-and-bessent-stayed-on-decoy-flight-from-turkey-as-trump-switched-planes-official-says/article_fa6bb0c6-b4ce-5aa7-9ae1-08bd3e982759.html) — Rubio and Bessent stayed on decoy flight from Turkey as Trump switched planes, official says - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/rubio-and-bessent-stayed-on-decoy-flight-from-turkey-as-trump-switched-planes-official-says) — Rubio and Bessent stayed on decoy flight from Turkey as Trump switched planes, official says - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/trump-air-force-one-iran-rubio-bessent-c66cfef8a02e92620c4545097149cac0) — Rubio and Bessent stayed on decoy flight from Turkey as Trump switched planes, official says - [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/news/politics/2026/08/13/rubio-and-bessent-stayed-on-decoy-flight-from-turkey-as-trump-switched-planes-official-says) — Rubio and Bessent stayed on decoy flight from Turkey as Trump switched planes, official says - [Corriere Della Sera](https://corriere.it/esteri/26_agosto_12/fuga-trump-air-force-one-esca-iran-4cba94a6-1ab1-4c50-9060-2f0cdbaccxlk.shtml) — Trump's Escape. Air Force One Used as' Decoy 'to Mislead Iran - [Atlanta Black Star](https://atlantablackstar.com/2026/08/12/trump-left-rubio-and-bessent-in-a-decoy-plane) — ‘Miserable Excuse of a Human': Trump Left Rubio and Bessent in a 'Decoy' Plane Feared to be a Target While He Secretly Escaped with Young, Blonde Aide - [Wonderwall.com](https://wonderwall.com/politics/donald-trump-officials-left-decoy-plane-raises-questions-presidents-priorities) — List of Trump officials left on ‘decoy’ plane raises questions about president’s priorities - [WLTReport](https://wltreport.com/2026/08/12/report-fighter-jets-protected-decoy-air-force-one-as-president-trump-flew-on-secret-flight) — REPORT: Fighter Jets Protected “Decoy” Air Force One As President Trump Flew on Secret Flight - [Inside Defense](https://insidedefense.com/document/dod-modernized-sar-air-forces-vc-25b-program-0) — DOD modernized SAR on the Air Force's VC-25B program - [TUOI TRE ONLINE](https://tuoitre.vn/he-lo-loai-vu-khi-de-doa-khien-ong-trump-phai-bi-mat-roi-chiec-air-force-one-bang-xe-cho-suat-an-100260812231422529.htm) — I'll Be Happy to See You Next Trump with More Information on Air Force One in the Near Future - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/politics/decoy-air-force-one-protected-us-fighter-jets-official-says) — 'Decoy' Air Force One was protected by US fighter jets, official says - [RedState](https://redstate.com/wardclark/2026/08/12/powerful-security-move-trump-and-hegseth-fly-secret-as-rubio-takes-decoy-af1-n2205535) — Powerful Security Move: Trump and Hegseth Fly Discreetly, As Rubio Takes Decoy Air Force One - [Twitchy](https://twitchy.com/dougp/2026/08/12/no-way-journos-might-have-been-slightly-over-dramatic-about-the-decoy-air-force-one-danger-n2431212) — NO WAY! Journos Might Have Been Slightly Over-Dramatic About the 'Decoy' Air Force One Danger - [The New Republic](https://newrepublic.com/post/214228/trump-decoy-plane-iran-rubio-miller) — Here’s Who Trump Chose to Leave on the Decoy Plane Targeted By Iran - [Washingtonian](https://washingtonian.com/2026/08/12/rubio-miller-decoy-plane-white-house-hearn-kennedy-center-court-fees-musician) — Trump Let Marco Rubio and Stephen Miller Fly on Decoy Plane, White House Wants to Keep Prosecuting Local Canoeist, and Kennedy Center Must Pay Musician’s Court Fees - [Irish Examiner](https://irishexaminer.com/world/arid-41894755.html) — Donald Trump’s Air Force One deception faces scrutiny over ‘decoy’ passengers - [Handelsblatt](https://handelsblatt.com/politik/international/usa-us-kampfjets-fangen-flugzeug-bei-trump-besuch-in-ohio-ab/29669594.html) — USA: US Fighter Jets Catch Aircraft on Trump Visit to Ohio - [ussanews.com](https://ussanews.com/2026/08/11/decoy-air-force-one-press-used-as-bait) — Decoy Air Force One? Press Used As Bait - [Raw Story](https://rawstory.com/trump-katie-miller) — Katie Miller goes off the rails attacking reporter behind bombshell Trump story - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-switch-air-force-one-turkey-b3031336.html) — Expendables: Internet fumes over Trump using media as ‘decoy’ in Air Force One swap - [Mediaite](https://mediaite.com/media/news/tmzs-harvey-levin-questions-why-threatened-air-force-one-was-allowed-to-take-off-with-unsuspecting-reporters-and-staff-aboard) — TMZ’s Harvey Levin Questions Why Threatened Air Force One Was Allowed to Take Off with ‘Unsuspecting’ Reporters and Staff Aboard - [Twitchy](https://twitchy.com/brettt/2026/08/11/the-bulwarks-sam-stein-also-upset-for-reporters-left-on-trumps-death-jet-n2431171) — Sam Stein, David Axelrod, Harvey Levin Also Upset for Reporters Left to Die on Trump’s Death Jet - [Daily Kos](https://dailykos.com/stories/2026/8/11/800082687/community/trump-turned-press-and-staff-into-unwitting-decoys-in-the-af1-shell-game) — trump Turned Press and Staff Into Unwitting Decoys in the AF1 Shell Game - and Then Lied About It - [Political Wire](https://politicalwire.com/2026/08/11/trumps-air-force-one-decoy-escape-ignites-online-fury) — Trump’s Air Force One ‘Decoy’ Escape Ignites Online Fury ## Questions **Why was a decoy Air Force One used for Trump?** Intelligence identified a credible Iranian missile threat against Donald Trump during his return from a NATO summit in Turkey. A decoy plane was used to mislead potential attackers while Trump flew on a separate military jet, as reported by Corriere Della Sera and confirmed by Trump. **Who was on the decoy Air Force One?** The decoy plane carried Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and several Trump advisers, including Stephen Miller and Monica Crowley. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth flew with Trump on the secret jet, according to Corriere Della Sera and RedState. **Did Trump initially deny the security threat?** Yes. On 8 July 2026, Trump denied any security concerns, calling questions about the plane switch "strange". After reports emerged, he confirmed the Iranian threat, saying he followed his security team’s advice. Corriere Della Sera reported both the denial and the later confirmation. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-flew-on-secret-jet-after-iran-threat-decoy-air-force-one-used. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Trump flew on secret jet after Iran threat, decoy Air Force One used", https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-flew-on-secret-jet-after-iran-threat-decoy-air-force-one-used