U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., accused President Donald Trump of cowardice on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, after reporting revealed that Trump was secretly moved off Air Force One and onto a separate military jet during a credible threat from Iran last month, without informing the reporters, crew and staff who remained aboard the original aircraft. Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy combat pilot and former NASA astronaut who now sits on the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, posted his response on X at 7:00 p.m. on August 11.
Kelly’s full post read:
“The White House decided there was a threat so great that Donald Trump was secretly moved to another plane but they never told the passengers on Air Force One. Cowards look out for themselves. Leaders look out for their people.”
The Reporting Behind Kelly’s Statement
Kelly’s post came in direct response to reporting published by The New York Times on August 10, which detailed an elaborate operation by top administration officials to move Trump out of Turkey following the NATO summit in July. According to the Times, Trump was transported through an airport catering container to a military jet after officials determined that a threat against him and Air Force One from Iran was credible.
What the White House Told the Public
Trump and administration officials had publicly stated that he would depart Turkey on July 8 aboard an older version of Air Force One rather than the newer 747-8 donated by Qatar that he had flown in on, with Trump telling reporters the switch was for “old times’ sake.” He boarded the older plane in view of cameras, and journalists traveling with him, including those from the Times, reported he had flown to Britain on that aircraft before switching back to the Qatari jet.
The Actual Sequence of Events
Instead, according to the Times, Trump was removed from that plane through a catering container lifted to the side opposite where journalists boarded, then taken to a third aircraft that flew him secretly to Britain. Reporters aboard the older Air Force One were not told Trump was not with them, making them unwitting participants in the deception. The Washington Post, which first reported the episode, identified the aircraft that carried Trump as a C-32A, a military variant of a Boeing 757.
Officials Involved in the Plan
The plan was developed within hours of officials confirming the threat and involved a small group of senior officials, including General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to the Times. The Defense Department and a spokesman for General Caine referred questions to the White House. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung had previously alluded to the operation, saying at the time of the NATO summit that the administration uses “every tool at our disposal — including distraction and misdirection” to address threats against Trump. The White House later reissued that statement with the reference to “distraction and misdirection” removed.
Trump’s Own Comments on the Flight Home
When reporters asked Trump aboard the flight back to Washington why the group had flown to England on the older Air Force One, he said he wanted troops stationed at the U.K. base to see the newer plane. Asked why window shades had been ordered closed during the flight from Turkey, Trump said he was not aware of a specific threat but described himself as being under constant threat from Iran, telling reporters, “I’m number one on their list, before you. But if I go, you go. Right?”
A Pattern of Threats Dating Back Years
The Times reported that Trump and his advisers have faced threats from Iran for years, particularly following Trump’s first-term order to kill Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani. During the 2024 campaign, Trump’s advisers privately told allies they had received intelligence that Iran still sought to harm him, leading to occasional use of decoy aircraft. That period also included two unrelated assassination attempts against Trump, one in Butler, Pennsylvania, and a second in September 2024.
Reaction Beyond Kelly’s Statement
Kelly’s post added to a wave of criticism directed at the administration following the disclosure. Social media users and commentators seized on the episode after footage purporting to show Trump being moved via catering cart circulated online, with one widely shared post from a former Trump White House staffer calling the decision to leave the press pool and crew unaware “some sick shit.”
Subpoenas Issued Over Related Leaks
The Times also reported that after its earlier story on security shortcomings involving the Qatari-donated jet, the Justice Department issued grand jury subpoenas to reporters who had covered the story, as well as some of their family members. Those subpoenas were later withdrawn after a federal judge admonished prosecutors over the process involved.
Kelly’s Broader Record of Criticizing the Administration
Kelly, a former Navy officer who flew 39 combat missions and completed four space missions before his 2020 election to the Senate, has repeatedly positioned himself as a vocal critic of the administration’s handling of national security matters. In a statement released earlier this year, Kelly said his military and space career reflected “an unwavering commitment” to his oath to the Constitution rather than to any individual leader, and said he would not be silenced for reaffirming what he described as a foundational principle of civil-military relations.
Kelly Has Urged Others Not to Back Down
In separate remarks earlier this year, Kelly said his role on the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees carries a constitutional responsibility to call out the president when he believes Trump is acting wrongly, and encouraged others targeted by the administration to “stand up for yourself and don’t back down.”
Context on the Broader Conflict
The disclosure comes against the backdrop of Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Iran military conflict Trump launched on February 28, 2026, which has generated sustained scrutiny from lawmakers over transparency, casualty reporting and executive decision-making throughout the year. The Times noted that Trump has continued to express anger over leaks that contradict his public statements about the war, according to multiple officials familiar with the matter.
Outlook
As of Tuesday evening, the White House had not issued a new statement responding directly to Kelly’s remarks or to the broader wave of criticism following the Times and Washington Post reports. The episode marks one of the more unusual instances in recent history of the public, and members of the traveling press corps themselves, being knowingly misled about a sitting president’s whereabouts during an overseas trip.