WASHINGTON, United States, North America: The White House denied a claim involving Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on August 13.
The rumour concerned a July 8 decoy flight from Ankara, Türkiye. Snopes said a White House spokesperson told the outlet that Leavitt was not on the trip.
New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman also told Snopes that Leavitt was not aboard the flight. Snopes left the claim unrated because it lacked direct confirmation from anyone aboard the aircraft.
The rumour followed reports that President Donald Trump secretly switched aircraft after leaving Türkiye’s capital. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remained on the other plane.
Read: Trump Turkey Escape: US Used Truck Over Iran Missile Threat
Reports linked the security operation to an alleged Iranian threat. Some US intelligence officials disputed the threat’s credibility.
Read: Türkiye Missile Threat Forced Trump to Switch Aircraft
Leavitt announced on August 12 that she would leave her White House role at month’s end. The Associated Press said she cited family responsibilities and would remain an outside adviser to Trump. No official source has connected her departure to the flight.
