President Donald Trump switched planes on his way out of Turkey this month after U.S. officials identified what they called a credible threat that Iranian proxy forces were targeting him and Air Force One, The New York Times reported, citing multiple sources briefed on the matter.

Trump flew to Ankara for the NATO summit aboard a newly retrofitted Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar.

The Times previously reported that the jet lacks the anti-missile systems installed on the older presidential aircraft.

After the government picked up on the threat, the Secret Service urged Trump to change planes, and he flew out on the older jet.

Sources briefed on the matter told the Times that the intelligence pointed the threat at Trump and at whatever aircraft carried him, not the new plane specifically.

Trump initially told reporters the July 8 swap was so American service members in Britain could tour the Qatari jet and denied any security motive.

Standing on the tarmac in Ankara, Trump acknowledged he remains a target.

"They want to take out the U.S. leader, me. I'm on every single one of their lists," he told reporters.

Trump conceded Sunday that the Qatari jet is not fully outfitted, saying it would soon be "maxed out."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday the plane is "perfectly safe" but will come out of service for roughly a month this fall for additional upgrades, with Trump flying the older aircraft in the interim.

Officials had earlier flagged Israeli intelligence about a fresh Iranian assassination plan around the same period, though the Times reported the threat that drove the Ankara swap was separate.

Iranian-linked plots against Trump trace to the U.S. strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, which Trump ordered in 2020.