Unknown individuals attempted to shoot down Trump's plane over Turkey

The assassination threat against Trump was learned on the final day of the NATO summit in Ankara, when intelligence agencies received information about an attempt to shoot down the presidential plane using a man-portable air defense system (MANPADS), CNN reports.

The information was specific enough that officials decided it was too risky for the president to depart Turkey on any of the official presidential planes—whether the old one or the new Qatari one. The threat was considered quite real, in part because Iran appeared to know the details of the American delegation's movements during its stay in Turkey.

Three aides and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth boarded the third plane with Trump.

Among the aides are Natalie Harp, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, and Oval Office Operations Director Walt Nauta, who also frequently travels with the president.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller remain on board the presidential plane.

Photo: Boeing.