US intelligence officials reportedly questioned the credibility of intelligence from Israel that helped trigger an extraordinary security operation involving President Donald Trump during his return from Türkiye last month.
According to a report by The Washington Post, CIA analysts did not consider the Israeli-provided intelligence compelling enough to establish a clear and credible assassination threat against Trump.
The reported assessment adds a new layer to the unusual decision to secretly move the president from an older Air Force One aircraft to a smaller military plane following the NATO summit in Ankara.
CIA Reportedly Viewed Intelligence as Low Confidence
US officials familiar with the intelligence reportedly described the information as Israeli-derived rather than intelligence independently generated by US agencies.
One official characterized the assessment as “low confidence,” according to The Washington Post, and said CIA analysts had communicated concerns about the reliability of the information to officials in the Trump administration.
The intelligence allegedly pointed to a potential Iranian assassination threat against Trump.
Despite the doubts, security officials ultimately decided that the possibility of an attack was serious enough to warrant extraordinary precautions.
The reported disagreement illustrates the difficult decisions involved when intelligence agencies assess threats against a sitting US president, particularly when the information originates from a foreign intelligence service.
Trump Secretly Changed Aircraft in Türkiye
The reported intelligence concerns emerged after Trump left Ankara following the NATO summit on July 8.
Trump had initially boarded an older Boeing 747 presidential aircraft in Türkiye. However, he was reportedly moved to a C-32A military aircraft before the plane departed.
The transfer was reportedly carried out using an airport catering truck, allowing the president to leave the aircraft without attracting attention from journalists traveling with him.
Trump and a small group of aides then traveled to RAF Mildenhall in England aboard the smaller military aircraft.
The operation reportedly included fighter jet protection, with F-16s said to have escorted the aircraft during the journey.
Meanwhile, reporters accompanying Trump remained under the impression that he was still aboard the older Air Force One.
Secret Service Chose to Take No Chances
Even though questions reportedly existed within the intelligence community about the quality of the Israeli information, the US Secret Service ultimately determined that the potential danger justified taking additional security measures.
A US official cited by The Washington Post said the Secret Service was unwilling to take chances given the threats Trump has faced during his presidency and political career.
Trump has also said that the aircraft change was a decision made by the Secret Service rather than by him personally.
“I just follow what they like to do,” Trump reportedly said when asked about the unusual travel arrangement.
The White House did not directly address the reported disagreement over the intelligence assessment.
The CIA also declined to comment, while the Israeli Embassy in Washington reportedly did not immediately respond to questions.
Israeli Intelligence Raises New Questions
The episode has prompted questions about the nature of the intelligence Israel provided to the United States and why Israeli officials shared the information with Washington.
Some current and former US intelligence officials reportedly questioned whether the information was intended solely to warn American authorities about a possible threat or whether it could also have been designed to influence Trump’s decisions.
Israel has long identified Iran as one of its primary regional security concerns. Relations between Washington, Jerusalem and Tehran have remained particularly sensitive amid escalating tensions across the Middle East.
The reported intelligence assessment could therefore have broader implications beyond presidential security, especially if questions emerge over whether foreign intelligence was being used to influence US policy.
Rubio Reportedly Remained on Air Force One
Another unusual detail involves Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
According to a former US official cited by The Washington Post, Rubio was briefed about the Israeli intelligence and the planned security operation involving Trump.
Despite receiving the briefing, Rubio reportedly remained aboard the older Air Force One during the journey.
That detail has prompted further questions about how seriously senior officials viewed the alleged threat.
One US official reportedly questioned the severity of the danger, noting that thousands of Turkish security personnel had been deployed around the NATO summit.
The contrasting decisions involving Trump and Rubio highlight the uncertainty surrounding the intelligence and the different risk assessments made by US security officials.
The reported episode has now become a focus of scrutiny over presidential protection, foreign intelligence sharing and disagreements within the US national security establishment over the credibility of threats against Trump.
