The Washington Post reports that, after intelligence warned of Iranian missile threats, Secret Service agents quietly moved President Trump from a 747 to a C-32A, leaving many cabinet members and the 13-person press pool on a decoy plane. Trump flew with a small group that included Natalie Harp, Dan Scavino, Walt Nauta and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The move has reignited debate about the safety of staff and journalists and drawn renewed attention to Harp's role in the president's inner circle.
Secret Plane Swap After Missile Threats: Trump Flies With Natalie Harp While Staff Remain On Decoy 747
Natalie Harp, aide to US President Donald Trump, steps off Marine One as President Trump walks to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on July 27. On July 8, Trump brought Harp along on his covert plane swap after threats against Air Force One, while leaving cabinet secretaries and the press on the decoy flight (AFP/Getty)
President Donald Trump was quietly transferred from a modified Boeing 747 to a smaller C-32A after U.S. intelligence warned of potential Iranian surface-to-air missile threats following the NATO summit in Turkey, The Washington Post reported.
What Happened
After initially boarding the 747 that was operating under the Air Force One call sign, Trump was escorted off the plane via a catering truck and placed on a C-32A — a military variant of the Boeing 757 — in a maneuver organized by the Secret Service. The smaller jet followed the 747 to RAF Mildenhall under the call sign REACH 88.
Who Accompanied The President
A small group joined the president on the covert flight, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino; Walt Nauta, director of Oval Office operations; Natalie Harp, a 34-year-old executive assistant nicknamed the president's 'human printer'; and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was operating the aircraft at the time.
A catering truck is parked at Air Force One on the tarmac as the motorcade carrying President Donald Trump arrives to depart following the NATO summit at Ankara International Airport in Ankara, Turkey. Trump boarded the jumbo jet and then snuck out through a food delivery truck that took him to the other plane (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Many senior officials and the 13-member White House press pool remained aboard the 747, which served as a decoy. Those left on the larger plane included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Communications Director Stephen Cheung, along with other aides and staff.
Security Concerns And Reactions
The Secret Service says the swap was intended to reduce risk after intelligence identified threats from Iranian surface-to-air missiles, including shoulder-fired systems. The decision to move the president while leaving others on a decoy plane prompted questions about whether staff and journalists were placed in greater danger.
Trump said he believed the plane he left may have been at greater risk, and that he followed Secret Service direction in the operation.
When asked whether the maneuver endangered those on the decoy plane, the president said the decision was made by the Secret Service and that he was following their guidance, describing the arrangement as intended to provide 'equal safety.'
Natalie Harp, who rarely is far from President Trump, walks to the motorcade as he departs from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after a medical checkup last year (AFP/Getty)
Natalie Harp And Other Aides
Natalie Harp, often described as a close, long-serving aide, has attracted attention for regularly supplying the president with large-format printouts of news articles and social posts. Her estranged brother has publicly described her relationship with the president as 'unhealthy' and called her part of his 'fan club.'
Walt Nauta, a former Navy culinary specialist and longtime Trump aide, has faced scrutiny in connection with investigations related to classified documents. Dan Scavino has worked with Trump for many years, originally on his golf properties.
Broader Context
The reported swap also reflects ongoing debate about which planes the president uses and their defensive capabilities. According to reporting, Trump declined to use a newer VC-25 'Bridge' provided by Qatar because it lacks missile-defense systems and instead favored an older Boeing model believed to have stronger defensive measures.
The episode has renewed discussion about transparency and risk management during high-risk presidential travel and about how much information is shared with staff and the press in such situations.
Help us improve.
