The Daily The Daily

All the President’s Planes

Aug 12, 2026 · 23m

Summary

Maggie Haberman reveals that President Trump used a decoy plane and a catering cart to secretly board a third aircraft due to a credible Iranian threat, despite public claims he switched to an older Air Force One. The administration’s lack of transparency and hostility toward the press undermined trust, complicating security protocols. The episode also notes that key officials were on the decoy plane and briefly covers a deadly earthquake in Colombia.

Topics discussed

Intro: Accenture ad and Trump's Turkey exit mystery Maggie Haberman joins to reveal the decoy plane story The Qatari jet, security concerns, and Trump's sudden switch The flight to the UK: Window shades and suspicious delays The reveal: Trump escaped via a catering cart to a third plane The 40-minute lag and the confusion of those on the decoy plane Iranian threats, siege mentality, and the administration's credibility Break: Ads for Accenture and The Headlines podcast Was the decoy necessary? Balancing safety and transparency Historical precedents: Clinton, Bush, and press trust The breakdown of trust between the White House and the press Update: Cabinet members on the decoy plane and Times ethics Colombia earthquake update and episode credits
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