Key facts
- President Donald Trump unveiled a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar as a new presidential aircraft.
- The jet features a new red, white, dark blue, and gold livery chosen by Trump.
- This aircraft will serve as an interim solution until purpose-built Boeing 747-8s are delivered in mid-2028.
- The US government's acceptance of the jet from Qatar has drawn scrutiny.
- President Trump boasted about US military power and predicted a sharp fall in oil prices during the ceremony.
President Donald Trump unveiled a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, which has been overhauled and is nearing delivery to join the Air Force One fleet. The jumbo aircraft, offered by Qatar last year, was retrofitted by L3Harris Technologies with a new red, white, dark blue, and gold livery chosen by Trump. The jet will serve as a more modern and luxurious interim aircraft for the president, his staff, and the media.
The Air Force fast-tracked the delivery of this bridge aircraft, skipping some planned modifications for the next-generation presidential jet to accelerate its availability. Officials stated that the plane meets presidential standards for safety and security, despite some experts raising concerns about its security compared to existing aircraft. The U.S. government's acceptance of the luxury jet from Qatar has drawn scrutiny regarding the appropriateness and cost of such a gift, though Trump dismissed these concerns.
This Qatari jet is intended to serve while Boeing works on two purpose-built 747-8s (VC-25Bs) under a $3.9 billion contract. However, that program is four years behind schedule, with deliveries not expected until mid-2028, and costs have ballooned to over $5 billion. The new color scheme marks a departure from the traditional white and blue design, a preference Trump had previously pushed for.
During the unveiling ceremony, President Trump boasted about US military power, claiming significant victories against Iran and predicting a sharp fall in oil prices. He also announced plans for trips to Turkey and China in 2026.