Netflix is set to premiere a documentary that recounts the July incident in which President Donald Trump was secretly moved off Air Force One in Turkey while the White House press pool flew on, unaware they were decoys. The streaming service announced Tuesday that “Instadocs: The Decoy Plane” will debut Friday, September 4.
The documentary focuses on the moment when, facing credible assassination threats from Iran, the Secret Service quietly spirited Trump off the presidential 747 via a catering truck and onto a secure military transport. Left behind on the main aircraft, the press corps reportedly erupted in panic when they realized they had been unwitting decoys.
Netflix’s promotional materials describe “a plane full of reporters and the public they answer to [being] left flying blind.” The documentary promises “firsthand accounts” from journalists who experienced the ordeal.
Reporters Describe ‘Horror’ of Shaded Windows
One Associated Press photographer told a dramatic story of shooting “the sh*t out of” a catering truck before being ordered to pull down his window shade—an instruction that triggered his “spidey sense.” Other reporters have complained about being treated as “expendable,” and the White House Correspondents’ Association reportedly sent private notes expressing concern over “press safety” and reporting integrity.
The incident took place in July while Trump was returning from a NATO summit. Security officials decided to use the press plane as a decoy, a tactic that has drawn criticism from some media figures who argue the press was put at risk.
Former Military Aide Calls Operation ‘Brilliant’ and Routine
Not everyone shares the media’s alarm. Lt. Col. Robert “Buzz” Patterson, a former military aide to President Bill Clinton, dismissed the media’s portrayal as melodrama. He called the Secret Service’s maneuver “brilliant” and noted that decoy planes, stealth swaps, and catering-truck tactics are standard operating procedures used by administrations for decades, including Clinton’s.
Patterson pointed out that the decoy jet carried senior Cabinet officials, full Air Force crews, and was escorted by U.S. fighter jets. “We do it all the time,” he said, adding that the media’s “hyperventilating” and leaks about classified security protocols could put future presidents and military personnel in danger.
He went further, calling for prosecution of whoever leaked details of the operation. “There’s only a few people who actually know exactly what’s going down, and that’s by design. So if somebody leaked it, it was somebody involved in the process, and that scares the hell out of me,” Patterson said.
Netflix Cashes In on Media Self-Interest
While the press corps treats a successful counter-threat operation like a traumatic thriller, Netflix appears eager to capitalize on the drama. The documentary’s title and promotional material lean into the reporters’ perspective, framing the experience as a harrowing ordeal rather than a necessary security measure.
The announcement has sparked debate about press coverage of security protocols and the line between legitimate reporting and self-serving narratives. Some observers have noted that the press pool was never in immediate danger, given the protection from fighter jets and the presence of senior officials aboard.
As one social media post accompanying Netflix’s announcement sarcastically noted, “Don’t forget to close your window shades.” The documentary is scheduled to premiere on September 4, and it remains to be seen whether it will offer a balanced view or simply amplify the media’s grievances.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-crying-game-netflix-announces-doc-on-reporters-left-flying-blind-aboard-trumps-decoy-plane