"I got him before he got me. They tried twice. Well, I got him first."
The remark came from President Donald Trump to ABC correspondent Jonathan Karl just after the U.S. launched a campaign against Iran in February. His comments are a window into how the former president views the personal danger posed by Iran.
Following an Israeli‑led airstrike that killed Iranian leader Ali Khamenei and other senior figures, Trump identified the Iranian threat as a direct danger to his personal safety. In response, the Secret Service orchestrated a covert aircraft swap at Ankara airport in Turkey in early July.
The operation involved a catering truck that transported Trump from the old Air Force One jet to a nearby C‑32A military aircraft. The exchange was staged so that the original 747 remained visible to the media and White House staff, acting as a decoy while Trump boarded the smaller, less‑visible jet for the remainder of the trip. Window shades were closed on the decoy plane to keep the swap hidden from cameras.
The secrecy of the swap kept media attention away from the president’s personal risk. Trump later explained to reporters that the move was necessary because “I have read all the time I’m number one on their list” and warned he will not evade the threat if the U.S. continues to confront Iran.
Washington Post and Associated Press reporters uncovered details of the operation from White House confirmations and video footage. Read the full account of the swap here. This event marks a new chapter in Trump’s second term, where he openly defends himself against Iranian missile threats.
Trump’s claims echo prior warnings by the U.S. administration. In 2022, the Biden administration told Iran it must not target U.S. citizens, citing a plot that would have targeted former National Security Adviser John Bolton. In July 2024, a Pakistani man was arrested for an alleged Iranian plot to kill the former president, and an Afghan was charged with a separate assassination attempt.
The ongoing Iranian threats are tied to the broader conflict. After Khamenei’s death in July, Iranian rallies and murals carried slogans calling for Trump’s death, while the U.S. continued to strike Iran’s nuclear sites and issue naval blockades.
Trump’s revelations about the plane swap demonstrate the reality of his security situation. The willingness to flee with a catering truck and a secondary jet underscores the high stakes for the former president as the war with Iran drags on.
