Key facts
- President Donald Trump is using a retrofitted Boeing 747, gifted by Qatar, as his Air Force One.
- The jet has been repainted in Trump's preferred navy, red, and gold color scheme.
- The interior features luxury upgrades such as plush carpets, lie-flat seats, and wood paneling.
- The $400 million gift from Qatar has raised ethical concerns.
- This aircraft will serve as a temporary replacement until new Air Force One planes are delivered in 2028.
President Donald Trump embarked on his first trip aboard a newly retrofitted Boeing 747, serving as Air Force One, which was a gift from Qatar. The jet, now painted in Trump's preferred navy, red, and gold color scheme, replaces the traditional light blue hull and features luxury amenities including plush carpets, lie-flat seats, wood paneling, and a presidential seal on the seat belts.
Trump expressed pride in the luxurious aircraft, stating, "You can do two things: You can low-key it, or you can show it." He described the plane as a gift from a country that has treated the U.S. well. The $400 million cost of the jet and its upgrades has prompted ethical concerns, though Trump views it as a necessary replacement for the 35-year-old planes previously used.
The retrofitted jet is making its inaugural flight to North Dakota, where Trump will visit the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library ahead of its opening for the nation's 250th anniversary. This aircraft will serve temporarily until Boeing delivers new, long-delayed planes designated for Air Force One in 2028. The Air Force indicated that cabin layout changes were minimal and security upgrades cost less than $400 million.