In a move that would make Houdini blush, Donald Trump reportedly escaped an Iranian assassination threat last month by hiding in an airport catering cart during a secret military flight from Turkey, according to the Washington Post and the New York Times. The White House had claimed he was flying on Air Force One, but the reality was far more absurd.

The ruse unfolded during a Nato summit in Ankara, where Trump boarded the old Air Force One jumbo jet in full view of television cameras, only to be secretly shuttled minutes later to a smaller plane via a catering truck - the kind typically used to load meals and supplies. Because nothing says 'commander-in-chief' like stowing away with the in-flight snacks.

A US official confirmed the operation to both the Post and the Times, and The Guardian has reached out to the White House and the Department of Defense for comment - though we suspect they're busy rehearsing their 'no comment' faces.

The deception was triggered by a credible threat involving Iran, which borders Turkey. The administration had previously claimed Trump left Turkey on 8 July on the former Air Force One, and Trump himself announced on Truth Social he'd use the older plane 'for old time's sake' to RAF Mildenhall in Britain, while the new Boeing 747-8 - a gift from Qatar - stopped at the same base for service members to tour. Because nothing says 'security threat' like letting troops gawk at your new ride.

The trip was the first international travel for the Qatari-donated plane, whose speedy upgrades raised questions about cost and security. The journalists who thought they were traveling with Trump were advised to keep their window shades closed, and even some White House staff believed the president was on board. When asked why the shades were shut, Trump quipped it was 'probably on a dangerous flight,' adding, 'But if I go, you go. Right?' Classic.

The C-32A carrying Trump arrived in Britain around 10.20pm local time, with the older Air Force One and media arriving minutes later. How Trump got from the C-32A back to the old plane remains a mystery - perhaps another catering cart, or maybe a teleporter. He disembarked at 10.56pm, flashed a peace sign, and greeted service members before boarding the Qatar-donated jet.

The White House, in a statement from communications director Steve Cheung, said the Qatari jet has 'high-level security protocols' ensuring the safety of the president and his staff. Cheung added, 'As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats.' Every tool, including, apparently, a catering cart.

This isn't the first time a president has pulled a sneaky move - Bill Clinton used an unmarked executive jet to fly into Pakistan in 2000, while his formal Air Force One served as decoy. But Clinton probably didn't have to worry about getting ketchup on his suit.