Marco Rubio Confronted About Trump's Use of Decoy Air Force One

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was questioned regarding President Donald Trump's use of a decoy Air Force One during his return from Turkey on July 8, 2026, amid an Iranian assassination threat. According to the Washington Post, Trump departed Ankara on a military aircraft while the White House claimed he was on Air Force One. Rubio, who traveled with Trump to Turkey, did not answer a reporter's question about whether Americans were put at risk by this decision. He smiled and walked away without responding. The Wall Street Journal reported that Rubio was left behind on the original Air Force One while Trump was transferred to a smaller aircraft. The White House did not clarify who traveled with Trump on the alternate flight. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was among those who boarded the smaller plane separately. The White House defended the security measures in place for the President but did not directly address the inquiries about the incident.