New details have emerged about the secret operation that reportedly removed Donald Trump from Turkey on 8 July, when the US president is said to have travelled on a different aircraft from Air Force One following intelligence warnings of a possible Iranian threat.
According to reports by CNN and NBC, Trump selected three close aides to accompany him: Natalie Harp, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, and Oval Office operations director Walt Nauta.
The operation was carried out under heightened security. Although Trump initially appeared to board Air Force One, reports say he was later moved in a catering truck and transferred to a separate aircraft.
A source cited by the Daily Mail said Harp's inclusion was considered a given, while another source described her as Trump's "first choice" companion for the trip.
"There is no one closer to the president on his team," the source said.
Harp has previously been described as Trump's "human printer" because she routinely provides him with printed copies of articles and social media posts.
Another source familiar with the operation reportedly referred to Harp, Nauta and Scavino as Trump's "three bodyguards".
Who stayed on Air Force One?
Among those who remained aboard Air Force One were:
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
- Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller
- White House Communications Director Steven Cheung
According to CBS, keeping Rubio and Bessent on the presidential aircraft was linked to maintaining the constitutional line of succession in case anything happened to Trump.
Under the presidential succession order, authority would pass first to Vice President JD Vance, followed by the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate. The secretary of state and treasury secretary are next among cabinet officials in the succession chain.
Sources cited by US media networks said both Rubio and Bessent were aware of Trump's alternative travel arrangements.
"Some cabinet members were willing to risk their lives for the president," a source close to Rubio reportedly said.
The same source said senior officials, including Rubio, knew Trump was not aboard Air Force One, although even they were uncertain about who was travelling with him.
The decoy flight
Also aboard the aircraft that reportedly served as a potential decoy target were:
- Deputy National Security Adviser Mike Needham
- White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf
- Speechwriter Ross Worthington
- Personal aide Chris Ambrosini
- Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Walters
The reports suggest the flight was intended to divert attention from Trump's actual movements amid concerns over a possible Iranian attack.
Source: ProtoThema
