Trump bids farewell to aging Air Force One as Qatari jet nears service

White House officials on Thursday bid farewell to one of the two Boeing 747 aircraft that have served as Air Force One for over three decades. The outgoing jet, which entered service in 1990, carried every U.S. president since George H.W. Bush. Communications director Steven Cheung posted a social media message calling it the 'Last Ride,' fueling speculation that a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar is poised to become the new presidential aircraft.

US Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley also shared a photograph of the plane, noting its 'cozy' interior and calling flights with President Donald Trump 'incredibly special.' The aging aircraft is one of two heavily modified 747s that have been in service since 1990.

President Trump is reportedly considering using the new Qatari jet, valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, for his upcoming trip to Mount Rushmore. The U.S. Air Force confirmed in May that the Qatari jet had completed flight testing and was on schedule for a new livery this summer. The acquisition of the aircraft from a foreign power has raised significant ethical, constitutional, and security concerns, particularly regarding the sophisticated countermeasures typically found on presidential planes.

Trump has long expressed a desire to replace the current Air Force One fleet, deeming the veteran planes inadequate. While the U.S. government has contracted Boeing for two new 747-8 aircraft, that program has encountered delays and cost overruns.