Trump Says US Bombers Pulled From UK Base Over Lingering Threat Concerns

President Donald Trump told reporters on Oct. 5 that the U.S. military withdrew long-range bombers from the United Kingdom over the belief that the aircraft faced a lingering threat.

“We had an idea that there might be a threat,” Trump said shortly before departing the White House for a campaign stop in Grand Island, Nebraska.

“And why would I leave them there? It cost very little money to move them, you know, relatively closely. But no, we had a threat and if we’re going to be threatened, we’ll just move them and that sort of alleviates that.”

The U.S. Air Force pulled all of its B-1B Lancer bombers from RAF Fairford over the weekend. That move came after law enforcement authorities in the UK responded to a Sept. 27 call about several individuals behaving suspiciously near the base, which has historically hosted U.S. bomber forces.

UK authorities initially arrested five individuals in connection with the Sept. 27 security incident, but subsequently released them on police bail.

On Oct. 1, authorities arrested another individual, whom they identified as a dual national of the UK and Iran, on suspicion of preparing to commit terrorist acts. This individual has also since been released on bail.

When asked if Iran-linked actors may have brought armed drones into the UK to carry out attacks, Trump said, “I can’t tell you that. But if they did, they’ll suffer greatly.”

Last year, Ukrainian forces snuck more than 100 explosive-laden drones deep inside Russia’s border to carry out extensive attacks on bases hosting Russian strategic bomber forces.

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also commented on Monday about the withdrawal of bombers.

Before departing Washington for a campaign stop in Alaska, Vance said: “The Iranians are … trying to do what the Iranian state has done for 49 years, which is engage in acts of terrorism against the United States and against a lot of other people as well.”

“So, we are being extremely cautious, and that’s all I’d say about that.”

Speaking with reporters before leaving for a diplomatic visit to Iceland, Rubio downplayed the recent bomber movements.

“It’s not unusual to see rotations happen … new planes coming in, old planes going out,” Rubio said.

Rubio expressed confidence in the security measures around U.S. military bases around the world.

He also thanked UK authorities for their cooperation in the investigation into the Sept. 27 security incident near RAF Fairford.

Iranian officials have denied any link to the security incident at the UK airbase.

“You’re barking up the wrong tree,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sept. 30.

In July, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would treat any bases used to launch strikes on Iranian territory as legitimate targets for retaliation.

The British government has authorized U.S. forces to use some of its bases, including RAF Fairford, to launch strikes on Iranian missile sites that have targeted international shipping.

Following their initial arrests near RAF Fairford, the UK’s office for Counter Terrorism Policing reported they searched multiple suspect vehicles and found no improvised explosive devices.

The authorities said they did find a quantity of gasoline, but did not specify how much.

This is a developing report and will be updated with additional details.