Trump secretly switched planes in Turkey while cabinet members stayed on decoy Air Force One

Two members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet remained on a decoy aircraft after Trump covertly left the plane and boarded a different flight in Turkey on 8 July, CBS News reports.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stayed aboard the original plane that retained the Air Force One call sign while Trump entered that aircraft with press and other officials, then hid on a catering truck to be moved to a separate military plane.

The first aircraft continued using the Air Force One label because that call sign applies to any plane the president is aboard; in this incident the original plane kept the designation and acted as a decoy.

CBS News, citing the BBC as its U.S. partner, reports Rubio and Bessent remained on the first aircraft to preserve the presidential line of succession should something have happened to Trump.

Others who stayed aboard the decoy included White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Communications Director Steven Cheung. The BBC has reached out to the White House for comment.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The report states that two Cabinet members and additional White House officials remained on the initial aircraft that maintained the Air Force One call sign while President Trump relocated clandestinely to another plane on 8 July. Officials aboard the first plane included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Communications Director Steven Cheung, according to CBS News and the BBC. The BBC has sought comment from the White House.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• President Trump left one plane secretly in Turkey on 8 July and boarded a separate military aircraft.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remained on the original plane, which kept the Air Force One call sign as a decoy.
• White House aides Stephen Miller and Steven Cheung were also aboard the decoy; the BBC contacted the White House for comment.