In July, leaving a NATO summit in Turkey, Donald Trump was captured on camera boarding Air Force One. But the president did not fly back to the United States on that plane. Instead, he slipped out the other side and onto a secret catering truck that transported him to a different aircraft, leaving a gaggle of reporters on board, unaware that the POTUS was no longer with them.
A new Netflix documentary titled “The Decoy Plane,” out Sept. 4, explores the White House’s elaborate ruse, with footage from and interviews with various reporters who were on board Air Force One.
“I see those catering vehicles up against the side of Air Force One … I have never seen that before,” says the AP’s chief White House photographer, Alex Brandon, in the trailer.
The reporters boarded the aircraft after Trump and took their seats. Then, “the second unusual thing happens,” Brandon says.
“We’re told by the White House staff that we should lower our window shades,” says Gram Slattery, White House national security correspondent for Reuters. When journalists asked why, the staffers said, “Secret Service says to,” which raised Brandon’s “Spidey sense.”
It was reported after the fact that the White House deceived the public due to threats against Trump from Iran. He had previously announced that he would be leaving Turkey on an older version of Air Force One, rather than the luxury 747-8 donated by Qatar on which he flew in. But, instead, Trump was whisked off the plane he was seen boarding and taken to a military jet. On a stop in Britain, Trump was secretly transported back to the older version of Air Force One filled with reporters.
When the specifics of the move came to light, Trump faced backlash for deceiving reporters and putting them — and White House staff — in potential danger.
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Part of Netflix’s “Instadocs” series, “The Decoy Plane” is executive produced by Josh Tyrangiel, Connor Schell, showrunner Steve Yaccino, Libby Geist, Aaron Cohen and Alexa Conway. Amel Guettatfi and Rakhee Jethwa are supervising producers. The production company is Words + Pictures.
Watch the trailer for “The Decoy Plane” below.
From Variety US