{"id":38815,"date":"2026-08-11T15:47:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T10:47:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=38815"},"modified":"2026-08-11T15:47:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T10:47:19","slug":"trumps-air-force-one-escape-while-leaving-journalists-on-decoy-flight-sparks-online-media-fury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=38815","title":{"rendered":"Trump\u2019s Air Force One Escape While Leaving Journalists on \u2018Decoy\u2019 Flight Sparks Online Media Fury"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5749958\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5749958\" class=\"size-large wp-image-5749958\" src=\"https:\/\/am12.mediaite.com\/med\/cnt\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Untitled-design-2026-08-11T085253-984-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5749958\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Screengrab via X)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>President <strong>Donald Trump\u2019s<\/strong> reported secret escape from Air Force One amid fears of an Iranian <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/news\/trump-admits-he-left-explosive-instructions-in-the-event-hes-assassinated-by-iran-report\/\">assassination attempt<\/a> sparked a furious online backlash Monday, with critics accusing the White House of leaving journalists and staff aboard what was described as a \u201cdecoy\u201d aircraft.<\/p>\n<p>The uproar <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/national-security\/2026\/08\/10\/trump-flew-secrecy-amid-iran-threat-air-force-one-became-decoy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">followed a <em>Washington Post<\/em><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/news\/trump-secretly-ditched-air-force-one-for-military-plane-amid-assassination-threat-report\/\">report<\/a> detailing an extraordinary security operation as Trump left Turkey on July 8, a day after the U.S. renewed military strikes on Iran.<\/p>\n<p>Trump initially boarded the familiar presidential Boeing 747 in view of cameras before he and several aides reportedly slipped out another door and into an airport catering truck, which transported them to an Air Force C-32A.<\/p>\n<p>Defense Secretary <strong>Pete Hegseth<\/strong> joined Trump aboard the smaller aircraft for the flight to Britain.<\/p>\n<p>Reporters and some White House staff remained aboard the original plane, reportedly unaware the president wasn&#8217;t on board.<\/p>\n<p>The story drew quick and widespread fury online, where liberal pundits seized on the characterization of the original plane as a \u201cdecoy\u201d and questioned the decision to keep journalists and staff aboard during what officials considered a credible threat:<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"ef2e807b465c052a1d3c6e7a27ba9afe\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A truly WILD story. This appears to be the order of operations:<\/p>\n<p>1. Trump flies to Turkey on the new Qatari-gifted Air Force One for the NATO summit.<\/p>\n<p>2. An Iranian assassination threat triggers a secret \u201cdeception operation.\u201d Security officials devise a plan to conceal which\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fiMYUwBPB5\">https:\/\/t.co\/fiMYUwBPB5<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MeidasTouch\/status\/2086963548085973174?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"ead004ae6276d6934174325302612b7f\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">So Trump and the White House lied about which plane Trump was on flying out of Turkey, setting up journalists who thought they were on the same plane as the president to possibly be the target of an Iranian attack while he secretly departed on a different one. <\/p>\n<p>Words fail.\u2026<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/atrupar\/status\/2087044856409403774?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"1c3f552d5e99e307dc3fbd3418dd35f4\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">In other words everyone aboard the real 747 AF1 \u2014 crew, guests, press pool \u2014 was considered expendable. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/K90dsXxbPY\">https:\/\/t.co\/K90dsXxbPY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; S.V. D\u00e1te (@svdate) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/svdate\/status\/2086955448222028067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"b0dfd3c2425561f4084139ff4a08a7ba\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Hello, WH staff and AF crew who flew from Ankara to England aboard the older AF1, tail number 29000, congrats!<\/p>\n<p>Donald Trump was ready to let you die while he secretly made his escape.<\/p>\n<p>Reach out if you want. Would love to talk to you. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/mYDBjB5leD\">https:\/\/t.co\/mYDBjB5leD<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; S.V. D\u00e1te (@svdate) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/svdate\/status\/2086968313029054683?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Ned Price<\/strong>, a former State Department spokesperson under former President <strong>Joe Biden<\/strong>, warned that while a \u201csafeguard\u201d was necessary at times, what was \u201cunique to this White House\u201d was the decision to \u201clie\u201d to reporters at the time and to the American people in the weeks that followed:<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"ab07ef13dab6f46430245faad9cecebb\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I\u2019ve traveled overseas with multiple presidents and recognize that subterfuge is sometimes a necessary safeguard. But misleading reporters in the moment and, worse yet, continuing to lie to the American people weeks later is never acceptable. As far as I know, it\u2019s unique to this\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1v0rQMku3x\">https:\/\/t.co\/1v0rQMku3x<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ned Price (@nedprice) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/nedprice\/status\/2086962801579278531?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>NBC News senior justice reporter <strong>Ryan Reilly<\/strong>, meanwhile, joked that the catering-cart maneuver appeared to have been borrowed from <strong>Taylor Swift\u2019s<\/strong> Eras Tour, referencing speculation surrounding the pop star\u2019s unconventional methods of moving around unnoticed at public events:<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"a00065b2038f6bebef20ff5fea2123ff\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">They stole this from the Eras tour. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vLfRg4RdzL\">pic.twitter.com\/vLfRg4RdzL<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ryanjreilly\/status\/2086951573746274501?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>MeidasTouch editor-in-chief <strong>Ron Filipkowski<\/strong> invoked Biden and <em>Pod Save America<\/em> co-host <strong>Tommy Vietor<\/strong> said the move made Trump look like a \u201cscared little b*tch\u201d:<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"5f376c7d818af8c3e7a6c9da95207e70\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Joe Biden never hid in a catering cart.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RonFilipkowski\/status\/2086994461049999674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"ec7b4de3741bc6bfe77889f30c954890\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This makes Trump look like both a liar and a scared little bitch <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/51H8gOVRwX\">https:\/\/t.co\/51H8gOVRwX<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TVietor08\/status\/2086978170356719805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"afcd2a0aed669c89a8f079261e0da78e\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The mental image of Trump hiding from Iran in a catering cart is devastating. A weak, stupid old man hiding from the consequences of his own decision while endangering others.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TVietor08\/status\/2086980599684960740?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>Meanwhile, MAGA pundits, including podcaster <strong>Katie Miller<\/strong>, wife of top Trump aide <strong>Stephen Miller<\/strong>, slammed the journalist behind the reporting while others fumed that the story had been leaked in the first place:<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"26a3290abe5c574a69d5014a9f1cbe8c\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">There is some loser out there super pleased and fulfilled with himself because the leftist media is giving him attention and telling him how brave he is. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/lbz0sGxShP\">https:\/\/t.co\/lbz0sGxShP<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Katie Miller (@KatieMiller) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KatieMiller\/status\/2086963762704072874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"870ed5f470aca9271ecf3f4a719bd1bb\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Given the ongoing and very serious threats to the president&#039;s life, I\u2019m glad our security teams did whatever it took, including the extraordinary cloak-and-dagger maneuvers, to keep him safe during international travel. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vT55uRCXEs\">pic.twitter.com\/vT55uRCXEs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ScottJenningsKY\/status\/2087003835139060210?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"9b647aa17c8e7370bd898f22c901ec06\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/1f6a8.png\" alt=\"\ud83d\udea8\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/> JUST IN: After publicly boarding Air Force One in Turkey, President Trump was SECRETLY MOVED out-of-sight from the press to a nearby C-32A plane, which he used to fly to the UK while there was a possible Iranian assassination plot \u2014 Washington Post<\/p>\n<p>The usual Air Force One was\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Dt5WCvByDK\">pic.twitter.com\/Dt5WCvByDK<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/EricLDaugh\/status\/2086957827214409955?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>Trump had publicly acknowledged the threat after reaching Britain, telling reporters that he was \u201cnumber one\u201d on Iran\u2019s \u201clist,\u201d but never mentioned the ruse.<\/p>\n<p>Asked why journalists had been ordered to close their window shades before departing Turkey, Trump offered a characteristically <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/news\/if-i-go-you-go-trump-tells-reporter-shell-be-killed-if-iran-hits-air-force-one\/\">dark joke<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut if I go, you go. Right?\u201d Trump said. \u201cPerhaps someday you want to change professions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/online\/trumps-air-force-one-escape-while-leaving-journalists-on-decoy-flight-sparks-online-media-fury\/\">Trump\u2019s Air Force One Escape While Leaving Journalists on \u2018Decoy\u2019 Flight Sparks Online Media Fury<\/a> first appeared on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\">Mediaite<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Screengrab via X) President Donald Trump\u2019s reported secret escape from Air Force One amid fears of an Iranian assassination attempt sparked a furious online backlash Monday, with critics accusing the White House of leaving journalists and staff aboard what was described as a \u201cdecoy\u201d aircraft. The uproar followed a Washington Post report detailing an extraordinary&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38816,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/am12.mediaite.com\/med\/cnt\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Untitled-design-2026-08-11T085253-984-1200x675.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38815","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=38815"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38815\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/38816"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=38815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=38815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=38815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}