CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins found something surprising today that made Trump’s usually talkative deputy chief of staff, Miller, have nothing to say. Collins asked Miller outside the White House, “Did you know you were on the plane that the president wasn’t on?” Miller just kept walking without answering.
This question is important now that we know Trump was secretly taken off Air Force One in a catering truck last month after intelligence warned of a possible threat from Iran.
Trump was then flown to Britain on a smaller military plane, accompanied by Secretary of War Crimes Pete Hegseth and a small group from his inner circle, including Natalie Harp, Dan Scavino, and Walt Nauta.
But Miller stayed on the decoy Air Force One along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and the entire White House press pool.
And we still don’t know if they knew Trump had left.
Collins brought up this point again on CNN, showing her conversation with Miller and revealing that sources confirmed who flew with Trump and who stayed behind.
Miller’s sudden silence is especially funny since just the day before he spent five minutes ranting on Fox News, saying, “I’m sorry for this monologue, but it’s got to be said.”
It seems some things don’t need to be said.
Miller isn’t the only top Trump official refusing to answer.
Reporters asked Rubio this week, “Mr.Secretary, did you put Americans at risk by having them fly an Air Force One when it was under threat?” Rubio smiled awkwardly, said, “Thank you, guys,” and walked away.
Trump says the Secret Service decided to move him and he just followed the instructions.
“They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane, equal safety,” he said.“I do what they say.”
No one expects the Secret Service to openly announce a secret presidential escape plan when dealing with a real threat.
But the secrecy during the operation doesn’t explain the silence now.
If Miller and Rubio knew Trump was no longer on Air Force One, what were they told about the danger they were facing?
If they didn’t know, why were some of the country’s top officials and a whole press team allowed to stay on a plane that was meant to look like the president was still there?
The unanswered questions go beyond whether Miller or Rubio knew Trump had switched planes.
A decoy is meant to draw danger away from the protected person, which creates a problem when that decoy is carrying the secretary of state, other officials, staff, and journalists.
If they knew, were they told about the risk they were taking and did they have a choice?
If they didn’t know, who decided to use them in the deception without telling them?
Protecting the president is the Secret Service’s main job, and no one expects Trump to ignore their advice.
But an operation meant to protect one life by putting others in danger raises tough questions about how that risk was handled, who knew about it, and whether those left behind had any say at all.
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