President Trump’s Air Force One subterfuge duped potential adversaries and the press during his visit to Turkey. The New York Times reported on the elaborate ruse that allowed Trump to make a surprise visit to U.S. troops in Iraq without alerting adversaries.

The Times detailed how the White House orchestrated a deception, with Air Force One’s flight plan altered and intelligence agencies working to keep the destination secret. This allowed Trump to land in Iraq, spend three hours with the troops, and depart before news of his visit became public.

The report highlighted the complexity of the operation, involving multiple layers of security and communication protocols to ensure the element of surprise. This allowed Trump to engage directly with service members in a war zone without the usual security risks associated with such visits.