Some Trump administration staffers were left behind on a decoy plane while President Trump and other officials covertly swapped aircraft as a missile threat from Iran loomed during departure from Turkey, according to a new report. The move was designed to hide the president's true location amid heightened security concerns.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Patterson, who once carried the nuclear 'football' for President Bill Clinton, said the incident alarms him. Patterson suspects that a 'highly placed' leaker disclosed the operational details to the media, a breach he finds deeply concerning.
The report does not specify the number of officials left behind or the exact timeline, but underscores the extreme precautions taken during the trip. The decoy plane continued its journey, while the president flew separately to ensure his safety.