Breaking down the aircraft involved in Trump’s plan to thwart Iranian assassination attempt

Published August 11, 2026 1:38pm ET | Updated August 11, 2026 1:38pm ET



The Secret Service’s elaborate plan to safeguard President Donald Trump due to an increased threat landscape following U.S. strikes on Iran last month meant flying him out of Turkey on the type of plane that the vice president, first lady, and Cabinet officials generally use.

Trump flew to last month’s NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on the Qatari-gifted VC-25B, which is based on the Boeing 747-8. During his departure, he walked up the steps of the old Air Force One, known as the VC-25A, but, unbeknownst to the public at the time, the president stepped off the VC-25A and hopped aboard a C-32A aircraft, according to the Washington Post.

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