President Donald Trump’s remark that someone would have to “shoot through the fake news” to get him has returned to public attention after The Washington Post reported he secretly boarded a military plane while leaving a NATO summit in Turkey. The Post says Trump hid in a catering cart and used a different jet while a decoy plane carrying White House pool reporters departed. Trump confirmed the Secret Service moved him off Air Force One and said he believed the plane he used was at greater risk. Campaign spokespeople said his earlier comment referred to protective measures after assassination attempts, not a wish to harm journalists.
‘Shoot Through the Fake News’: Trump’s Remark Resurfaces After Report He Secretly Boarded Military Plane
Trump's Comments About 'Shooting Through Fake News' Resurface Amid Bombshell Report
Past comments by President Donald Trump about the press have drawn fresh scrutiny after reporting that he covertly boarded a military aircraft while leaving a NATO summit in Turkey.
Background
Trump has repeatedly expressed hostility toward the media, often attacking reporters during Oval Office appearances and campaign events. At a Pennsylvania rally shortly before Election Day 2024, he made a remark about the press while describing Secret Service precautions taken after two assassination attempts against him.
“All we really have over here is the fake news, right? And to get me, somebody would have to shoot through the fake news. And I don’t mind that so much.”
Campaign Response
Then-campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told Politico at the time that Trump was not endorsing harm to journalists. Cheung said the president was discussing protective measures and referencing the prior assassination attempts — one of which Trump has repeatedly described as nearly fatal — and argued the media treated those attempts flippantly.
The Washington Post Report
The Washington Post reported that, amid a perceived threat from Iran, Trump was hidden inside a catering cart and transported to a different military plane. According to the Post, the jet he had originally boarded — which used the Air Force One call sign and carried White House pool reporters and staff — served as a “decoy.” The press were reportedly not informed Trump was no longer aboard the first jet when it departed Turkey for the United Kingdom.
Trump’s Confirmation And Conflicting Accounts
On Tuesday, Trump confirmed that the Secret Service wanted him off the newly refurbished Air Force One while leaving Turkey. “They wanted me to go on a different flight, different plane,” he said. “I guess there was a threat out there. I didn’t really ask too much about it. I get a lot of threats.” He added that he believed the plane he used “was at greater risk.”
The Post’s account and Trump’s recent comments contrast with earlier administration explanations for why he switched from the Qatari-refurbished Air Force One to the legacy plane. The reports have raised questions about transparency with the White House press pool and the handling of presidential travel during security threats.
Why This Matters
The episode has reignited debate over the president’s rhetoric about the media and the procedures used to protect the commander-in-chief. Journalists’ organizations and former White House officials have said transparency with the press pool is important for accountability, while security officials stress that operational details cannot always be disclosed in real time.
Sources: The Washington Post, Politico, statements from the former Trump campaign.
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