PNN – An American photographer described the covert transfer of Trump and the use of passengers on the first plane as “bait” as concerning.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; Doug Mills, a New York Times photographer who was aboard Air Force One during Donald Trump’s trip, described the U.S. President’s secret transfer to another aircraft as “concerning” after the move was revealed, stating that the passengers on the first plane had effectively been used as bait.
Speaking to CNN’s Erin Burnett, Mills said: It’s concerning, but yes, this is what we signed up for.
While returning from a NATO summit, Trump was secretly transferred to a smaller military aircraft—at a time when reporters and a number of government staff believed he was still aboard Air Force One. The primary aircraft continued its flight without the passengers being aware of the switch, serving as a decoy.
This operation was carried out following intelligence regarding a security threat against Trump and the possibility that the plane carrying him might be targeted. According to reports, Trump disembarked from the primary aircraft using an airport catering truck and was transferred to a C-32A aircraft.
Mills, one of the journalists aboard the decoy plane, stated that he was unaware the President was not on the flight; he only realized after the operation was revealed that the plane carrying him and the other journalists had effectively been used to divert a potential threat.