A claim that Trump's top staff invented an Iranian plot to shoot down his plane, framed as a troubling sign they manipulate him.

• The accusation: aides told Trump that Iran smuggled missiles into the country to target his plane.
• There was no proof — no documents, no witnesses, no arrests to back it up.
• Trump was reportedly put on a decoy plane while staff flew in another, with Secret Service playing up a threat that may not have existed.
• The episode is pinned just before US strikes on Iran, suggesting it was used to set the mood for war.

Outlook: Expect more finger-pointing inside Trump's circle over who shaped his decisions on Iran.