Turkey 'Decoy Plane' Snub? Iran Has A Theory Behind Karoline Leavitt's White House Exit

News world Turkey 'Decoy Plane' Snub? Iran Has A Theory Behind Karoline Leavitt's White House Exit

Turkey 'Decoy Plane' Snub? Iran Has A Theory Behind Karoline Leavitt's White House Exit

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Last Updated: August 16, 2026, 14:09 IST

Iran's embassy linked Karoline Leavitt's resignation to Trump's Turkey flight switch, but the White House said she was not on the aircraft. Leavitt cited family reasons for leaving

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Former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt might have quit her job after getting snubbed by Trump, who left her on a plane that was allegedly targeted by Iranians, while he flew away from Turkey in a 'decoy plane'. (Image source: AFP)

Karoline Leavitt’s decision to step down as White House press secretary has been linked by Iran’s embassy in South Africa to a reported security operation involving President Donald Trump’s departure from Turkey. This comes after claims emerged that Trump was moved to a different aircraft while officials, aides and journalists remained on the original plane.

Leavitt announced on Wednesday that she would leave the post at the end of August, saying she wanted to spend more time with her two young children. However, the timing of her resignation has prompted speculation online about whether she was upset over being left aboard an aircraft that had reportedly been considered unsafe for Trump.

The Iranian Embassy in South Africa amplified the claim on X, posting a photograph of Leavitt and suggesting that Trump had betrayed her by escaping on another aircraft while she was left in danger. The post also mocked the reported use of a catering truck to secretly move Trump between aircraft.

Betrayal is awful.​When your boss betrays you and sends you in danger, while he escapes in a food truck, you lose all hope for camaraderie.​Of course, you can’t expect much more from a murderer.​You did a good job resigning Caroline Leavitt pic.twitter.com/MHLly0mlPS— Iran Embassy SA (@IraninSA) August 15, 2026

The claim, however, could not be independently verified by News18.com.

What Happened?

Trump was reportedly moved from the new Air Force One aircraft to a smaller Air Force C-32A shortly before leaving Ankara on July 8. Trump later confirmed that security and military officials had advised him to use another aircraft because of a threat.

According to reporting cited by Forbes, US intelligence officials had identified what authorities considered a credible threat involving Iran. Trump was initially expected to leave Turkey on the older aircraft but was secretly moved using a catering truck.

Several officials, aides and journalists remained aboard the original aircraft, which later flew towards Britain. The unusual operation raised questions about why other people were left on a plane that had reportedly been considered unsafe for the president.

Social media users subsequently speculated that Leavitt could have been among those aboard the aircraft. The Iranian embassy used those claims to connect her resignation to the episode.

Leavitt Cited Family As Reason For Exit

Leavitt’s publicly stated reason for leaving the White House was her family. She said the demands of the press secretary’s position made it difficult for her to give her two young children the time she believed they deserved.

She gave birth to her second child on May 1 and returned to the White House podium on July 16, after resuming work several weeks earlier.

Trump has said he understood and respected her decision. He also said Leavitt would remain an outside adviser and described her as a close political ally who would be among his “top outside advisors".

While the Turkey flight episode has fuelled speculation about the circumstances surrounding Leavitt’s departure, there is currently no evidence establishing that the incident played a role in her decision to resign.

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Key Questions Answered Powered by Ask News18 Will Karoline Leavitt's resignation impact Trump's campaign? Karoline Leavitt's resignation is not expected to significantly impact Donald Trump's campaign, as she is set to continue working with him as an outside adviser and remain an influential voice in the Republican Party. What was the real reason for Trump's 'decoy plane' in Turkey? The primary source does not directly state the real reason for Trump's 'decoy plane' in Turkey, but other reports indicate it was due to a credible threat from Iran targeting Trump and potentially his aircraft. US intelligence officials had identified a potential attack, with one report mentioning a possible surface-to-air missile threat. Could this incident affect US-Iran relations further? The incident involving President Trump's plane switch in Turkey, which Iran's embassy linked to Karoline Leavitt's resignation, could further affect US-Iran relations. This event follows existing tensions, including previous claims of an Iran-linked assassination threat against Trump and ongoing military tensions between the two countries. Powered by Ask News18

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: August 16, 2026, 14:09 IST

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