Pentagon Revokes Ex-Air Force Secretary's Clearance Over Air Force One Leak Claim
The Pentagon revoked the security clearance of former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall on Friday, August 7, citing his public comments that suggested staff had disclosed operational details about presidential aircraft.[1]
Pentagon officials said the move followed Kendall's remarks about possible leaks involving Air Force One, a step that removes a longtime senior official's access to classified material as lawmakers and journalists press for answers.[1] The action comes amid reporting that President Trump was covertly evacuated from Ankara last month in a three-plane ruse prompted by a credible Iranian threat, a development that raised fresh concerns about disclosures of presidential aircraft security.[2]
A New York Times account said Trump arrived in Turkey on a Qatari-donated Boeing 747-8 that had been rapidly retrofitted, then staged a public departure on an older, powder-blue Air Force One while actually being moved through the decoy jet's belly and flown in a separate C-32A to the United Kingdom.[2] The Times and subsequent reporting identified that the Qatari 747-8 flew ahead as part of the deception and that several White House officials and cabinet members remained aboard the decoy aircraft.[3]
MS NOW and the Times both reinforced reporting that security concerns about the Qatari jet's immature secure communications and defensive systems were central to the decision to use the older 1990s-era Air Force One for the Ankara-to-UK leg.[4] White House communications director Steven Cheung had earlier alluded to "distraction and misdirection," and the more detailed Times reporting shifted the narrative from staged showmanship to confirmation that a credible Iranian aviation threat applied to any plane carrying the president.[2]
Show source details & analysis (4 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- On Monday, August 10, 2026, a senior U.S. official told the New York Times that during last month’s NATO summit in Turkey President Trump was covertly evacuated from Ankara using a three‑plane ruse because of a credible Iranian threat against him and any aircraft he used.
- The report says Trump arrived in Turkey on a Qatari‑donated Boeing 747‑8 that had been rapidly retrofitted for presidential travel, but he publicly said he would depart on an older, traditional Air Force One “for old time’s sake.”
- Rather than fly out on the older, powder‑blue‑painted jet, Trump boarded it for cameras, was moved via a modified catering cart through the aircraft’s belly, driven to a separate C-32A military jet and then flown secretly to a U.S. base in the United Kingdom.
- The Qatari 747‑8 flew ahead to a U.S. military base in the UK as part of the deception while journalists and the public were left to believe Trump was traveling on the decoy Air Force One; the Rubio, Bessent and Miller reporting on August 11, 2026 adds that key White House officials and cabinet members stayed aboard the decoy and reiterates that the Washington Post first reported the maneuver and the Times independently confirmed it.
- White House communications director Steven Cheung had previously alluded to “distraction and misdirection” after prior reporting on security vulnerabilities of the Qatari jet; the Times’ detailed account confirms the Iranian threat applied to any aircraft carrying Trump.
- MS NOW on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 reinforced earlier reporting that Trump used the older 1990s‑era Air Force One for the Ankara‑to‑UK leg in July 2026 because the Qatari‑gifted jet lacked fully mature secure communications and defensive systems, creating the security rationale for the swap (MS NOW).
- MS NOW also noted that Trump publicly framed the swap as showing the new plane to troops at a UK base and later acknowledged he was a key target for Iran, a narrative MS NOW contrasted with the confirmed credible Iranian aviation threat (MS NOW).
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- The New York Times article on August 11, 2026, confirms additional operational details of the Ankara ruse by identifying key White House officials and cabinet members who stayed aboard the decoy Air Force One, adding specificity to earlier accounts that prompted concern over disclosures of presidential aircraft security.
- It reiterates that the Washington Post first reported the secret three-plane maneuver and that the Times has independently confirmed the existence of the decoy operation tied to an Iranian proxy threat.
- MS NOW’s article reinforces earlier New York Times and PBS reporting that Trump used the older 1990s‑era Air Force One for the Ankara‑to‑UK leg in July 2026 because of security concerns that the Qatari‑gifted jet lacked fully mature secure communications and defensive systems.
- The report notes Trump publicly claimed the swap was to display the new plane for troops at a UK base while later acknowledging he was a key target for Iran, a narrative MS NOW contrasts with subsequent confirmation of a credible Iranian aviation threat.
- A senior U.S. official told the New York Times on August 10, 2026, that during last month’s NATO summit in Turkey, President Trump was covertly evacuated from Ankara using a three-plane ruse because of a credible Iranian threat against him and any aircraft he used.
- Trump arrived in Turkey on a Qatari-donated Boeing 747-8 that had been rapidly retrofitted for presidential travel, then publicly stated he would depart on an older, traditional Air Force One jet “for old time’s sake.”
- Instead of departing on that older, powder-blue-painted jet, Trump boarded it only for cameras; he was then moved via a modified catering cart through the aircraft’s belly, transported by car to a separate C-32A military jet, and flown secretly to a U.S. base in the United Kingdom.
- The Qatari 747-8 flew ahead to a U.S. military base in the UK as part of the deception, while journalists and the public were left to believe Trump was traveling on the older jet that served as a decoy.
- White House communications director Steven Cheung had previously alluded to “distraction and misdirection” in Trump’s departure after prior reporting on security vulnerabilities of the Qatari jet, but the Times now reports the specifics of the deception and confirms the Iranian threat applied to any aircraft carrying Trump.