A former Air Force lieutenant colonel, who once managed the nuclear “football” for President Bill Clinton, has stated that the recent Air Force One incident designed to safeguard President Donald Trump during a flight from Ankara, Turkey, isn’t a new phenomenon.
“It was quite impressive,” retired Lt. Col. Robert “Buzz” Patterson shared with Fox News Digital. “I wish I had taken part in it. Everything was orchestrated nicely.”
However, Patterson cautioned that uncovering sensitive details about such national security operations could endanger the president, military personnel, and the White House press team for many years.
Patterson, who served as Clinton’s senior military advisor and oversaw his emergency bag for two years, elaborated during a Wednesday interview on various strategies like presidential decoys and plane switches, which have traditionally been employed to protect the president and his key staff.
His worry isn’t about the tactic itself, which he was heavily involved in during Clinton’s time, but rather that specifics of its implementation are now becoming public knowledge.
“I hope the responsible parties are prosecuted,” Patterson commented. “In my view, the leak came from someone quite high up in the chain.”
He expressed that only a select few are privy to the underlying processes, and when information leaks, it’s alarming because it usually indicates involvement from someone within.
Patterson’s concerns were heightened after Fox News reported that the legacy presidential 747, used as a decoy, was protected by fighter jets during Trump’s flight to Britain last month.
A senior official from the Trump administration indicated that aircraft were safeguarded throughout the journey, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accompanying the traveling press contingent. Journalists were instructed to keep their window shades down.
Patterson affirmed that fighter escorts are standard procedure in high-risk situations.
When questioned if such escorts were typical for presidential flights, he replied affirmatively, especially in conflict zones. “It’s protocol anytime you’re in a high-risk theater,” he detailed. “We did so for President Clinton in 1997, for Trump recently, and will continue regardless of who the future president is.”
“We always use decoys.”
During Trump’s exit from the NATO summit on July 8, a methodical ruse was employed.
Trump initially boarded his recognizable blue-and-white 747 before covertly transferring to a smaller C-32A via an airport catering vehicle. Meanwhile, the Legacy 747 took off for the UK while Trump traveled separately, ultimately reuniting with a new 747 donated by Qatar.
Trump indicated that he was adhering to directives from the Secret Service and military.
Patterson pointed out that the fundamental strategy of obfuscating the president’s movements from potential attackers is routine.
“We always utilize decoys,” he stated. “They’re employed along the travel route.”
He explained that sometimes vehicles swap roles under bridges or that planes conduct similar maneuvers internationally. There’s frequently more than one Air Force One in the air—one functions as a decoy while also being a backup for parts.
“This has been a long-standing practice,” he added. “It serves its purpose, but it’s concerning that there’s a desire to expose how it operates, as this could have serious ramifications for our national security.”
Patterson asserted that these precautions are crucial for ensuring the continuity of the presidency, irrespective of who holds the office.
“With President Trump facing limited time left, these systems will endure long after him and have historical precedence,” he remarked. “This isn’t just about one individual; it’s about safeguarding the administration around them.”
Patterson, who is known for his conservative views and as a bestselling author, has been vocal about his criticism toward Trump, labeling the interplay between Trump and national security as perilous.
“While I served with Clinton, I wasn’t necessarily a fan of him,” Patterson reflected. “Yet I was there to perform my duties, and those working with Trump must recognize that their role is to protect both the individual and the institution.”
Clinton’s own catering truck operation
Patterson disclosed that Trump wasn’t the first to leverage a catering vehicle for covert movements: “As far as I recall, Clinton was the first to implement such methods.”
He recounted a time when a catering truck was used to discreetly transport Clinton onto the presidential plane, a detail that didn’t attract public attention.
“I won’t delve into specifics, but when Clinton was unable to be in the limelight, we utilized a catering truck to facilitate his boarding without drawing attention, known only to a select few of us,” Patterson noted.
“It allowed us to return to D.C. without prior announcement. I was also part of a surprise trip to Bosnia in 1997 over Christmas, where we kept everything under wraps without complaint from the media.”
He emphasized, “We conduct these operations regularly. They are secure, dependable, and the public does not need insight into the details.”
Presidents have habitually employed secrecy and deception when navigating dangerous territories. Clinton utilized a decoy plane during a visit to Pakistan in 2000, and subsequent leaders have made confidential trips to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, with varying levels of communication to the traveling media.
Revealing strategy ‘very dangerous’
Patterson countered criticisms aimed at Trump’s operation that suggested it needlessly endangered reporters and officials aboard the conventional presidential aircraft.
He clarified that the plane also carried Air Force crew and government officials, all safeguarded by fighter jets.
“We wouldn’t jeopardize those personnel,” Patterson asserted regarding Air Force members.
He expressed that some media critiques overlook the extensive security measures integral to presidential travel.
Patterson warned that efforts to reveal operational details are “extremely dangerous” and “irresponsible.”
He reiterated the risks extend beyond just the president to all individuals involved.
“It places everyone—from Secret Service agents to military aides—at risk,” he explained.
The retired lieutenant colonel emphasized that the president’s protective framework is intentionally compartmentalized, limiting knowledge of its entirety to a select few.
Patterson says exposure could make future travel to combat zones impossible
Patterson cautioned that excessive disclosure regarding the president’s deceptive techniques could incur long-lasting repercussions. Future presidents might find it challenging to conduct surprise visits or attend high-threat locations.
Once tactics become predictable, he believes, new security procedures would need to be established entirely.
“Exposing everything would necessitate a complete overhaul of our security framework,” Patterson said, warning that such actions could “put the president and his cabinet at significant risk.”
When asked if overly publicizing such protocols could effectively hinder future presidents from undertaking risky foreign trips, Patterson agreed readily.
“Precisely,” he confirmed.
This concern amplifies the debate surrounding Trump’s actions beyond just one administration or one plane operating out of Turkey.
Patterson stressed the tactics now being publicly analyzed may be essential in safeguarding future leaders and their entourages.
“Just let it be,” he summed up.
