Washington: Israeli officials passed intelligence to the White House indicating that Iran had plotted to assassinate President Donald Trump while he was travelling to the NATO summit in Ankara, according to a Reuters report that cited US and allied sources. The warning, which reportedly described a plan involving a shoulder‑launched missile against Air Force One, prompted heightened security measures and changes to the President’s travel arrangements.
Alleged threat prompted aircraft changes
Reported accounts say the intelligence briefing to US officials described a credible threat to the President’s aircraft ahead of the July summit. Multiple US media outlets subsequently reported that Mr Trump did not travel on the Qatari‑gifted Boeing 747‑8 as initially expected and instead used an older 747 for part of the trip before transferring to a smaller C‑32A. The President has said he acted on advice from the Secret Service and military, telling reporters he "does whatever Secret Service and the military advise him to do," as various outlets recorded.
Context and timeline of warnings
Reuters reported that the tip from Israel was the most detailed of several warnings delivered over the past year. Those alerts, according to the report, began in the run‑up to the 12‑day conflict in June 2025 and intensified ahead of the US decision to conduct military operations in Iran in February. Washington Post and New York Times coverage also described manoeuvres to move the President away from the ostensible target aircraft.
| Period | Reported developments |
|---|---|
| Lead‑up to June 2025 | Initial Israeli warnings to US about possible Iranian actions, Reuters reported |
| Prior to February (US operations in Iran) | Warnings reportedly intensified, per Reuters |
| July (Ankara NATO summit) | Detailed alert about a shoulder‑launched missile threat; subsequent plane swaps and security precautions reported |
Multiple accounts, differing details
The reporting draws on several US media organisations. Reuters cited US officials and other sources for the claim that Israel had provided intelligence about a missile attack targeting Air Force One. The Washington Post reported that the President was moved from the older 747 to a C‑32A in a manner described in its story; the New York Times and other outlets also published accounts suggesting a security threat prompted changes to travel plans. Coverage varies on operational specifics, sequence and how the aircraft transfer was executed.
"I do whatever Secret Service and the military advise me to do," the President said, according to US media reports.
Implications and diplomatic sensitivities
If confirmed, the episode highlights the fraught security environment surrounding high‑level diplomatic engagements in the region and the role of allied intelligence sharing. Israeli briefings to Washington on Iranian actions are longstanding, and the latest disclosures, as reported, underscore how intelligence can shape presidential movements and allied planning. The reports also underline the difficulties in publicly reconciling operational security with transparency when protecting visiting heads of state.
- Source reporting: Reuters led the reporting that Israel passed the warning to the White House; Washington Post and New York Times provided additional detail on aircraft movements.
- Security response: Reports indicate multiple changes to presidential air travel were made after the intelligence was shared.
- Broader pattern: According to Reuters, alerts from Israel about Iranian plots have been received by the US over the past year and increased prior to key military and diplomatic developments.
Officials in Washington and Jerusalem have not published a full public accounting of the intelligence or the specific measures taken in response. The reports rely on anonymous US and allied sources, and the differing narratives in US media reflect both operational secrecy and the caution typically associated with national security disclosures. The alleged plot, its timing and the resulting precautions will continue to figure in discussions about intelligence coordination among allies and the risks faced by senior leaders travelling to volatile regions.
