Key facts
- President Donald Trump unveiled a modified Boeing 747-8 jet, donated by Qatar, as the new Air Force One.
- The aircraft, valued at $400 million, underwent extensive security modifications and will serve as an interim transport.
- The donation sparked political protest due to its value exceeding federal gift limits and potential diversion of funds from defense programs.
- The new jet will be used until two purpose-built presidential Boeings are delivered in 2027 and 2028.
- The US Air Force stated the jet meets high security standards and was fast-tracked for delivery.
President Donald Trump unveiled a modified Boeing 747-8 jet, gifted by Qatar, to serve as the new Air Force One. The aircraft, valued at an estimated $400 million, has undergone extensive security modifications and is expected to be ready for presidential use soon. Trump described the jet as the "world's most luxurious plane" and argued it was necessary to keep pace with modern aircraft flown by foreign leaders.
The donation by Qatar has provoked political protest, with critics arguing that the jet's value wildly exceeds the federal limit on unsolicited gifts and that conversion costs could divert funds from defense programs like the Sentinel ICBM modernization. Trump dismissed these criticisms, calling it "stupid" to refuse the offer, and the Pentagon stated the acceptance followed all federal rules and regulations.
The Qatari 747 will serve as a "bridge" aircraft until two new presidential Boeings, with significantly ballooned costs, are delivered in 2027 and 2028. The US Air Force confirmed that the jet meets rigorous security requirements and that some planned modifications for the next-generation aircraft were skipped to accelerate delivery. The two ageing 747s currently in the presidential fleet entered service in 1990.