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Published 09:23 21 Jul 2026 GMT
Donald Trump's has announced that his new Air Force One will be taken out of service for one key reason.
The US President was only gifted the aircraft mere weeks ago by Qatar, but within the next month, it'll be temporarily removed from operation.
Questions were initially raised over the aircraft's defensive capabilities, but none of this was addressed by Trump, who proudly showed off the $400 million Boeing 747 earlier this month.
Nicknamed the "flying palace," the newest Air Force One enjoyed its first presidential flight in a trip to North Dakota.
Before taking off, Trump said of his new aircraft: “This will be the first flight of what I think is maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built.
“We’re going to the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library opening and that will be very good, that’ll be a lot of fun, but to be honest with you, I’m excited about the first flight.”
Trump explained that the aircraft was being sent away shortly, so it could undergo work within the next month, ensuring it will be "maxed out" with upgrades.
Upon arriving in Washington following the conclusion of Sunday's (July 19) World Cup Final, the President was asked why he was flying on the aircraft following reports it didn't have anti-missile defense systems.
The 80-year-old explained: “Well, it has – it has a lot, and you know it has a lot of capability, but as I understand it, in about a month or so, they’re going to send it to have it be maxed out.
“So they’re going to be sending it, and they’ll have it be maxed out. It’ll take about a month.”
He didn't expand on what the upgrades will be, but he suggested that it will bring the aircraft up to speed with the rest of the Air Force Ones in his fleet.
It should be noted that the Qatari-gifted plane was only given to Trump as a temporary "bridge" aircraft while Boeing completes two next-generation Air Force jets, which have long been delayed.
These aircraft are expected in 2028.
Trump's introduction of the new presidential plane featured a stark red, white, blue and gold paint scheme, as he was joined on board by members of his administration and family.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was also on board, sharing snaps of the new aircraft, including conference tables, televisions, a full presidential office with luxury furnishings.
Pictures from the journey also showed off a breakfast menu on board.
Trump told officials that the plane was modified and officials had “made it appropriate for a president” by ensuring that it had enhanced security technology and communications systems.
The temporary plane replaced an Air Force One that had been in service for almost 40 years, but when the new aircraft are complete, this will likely be sent to sit in the hangar.
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Published 14:37 01 Jul 2026 GMT
Donald Trump has taken the first official flight on his new Air Force One - a $400 million luxury Boeing 747 donated by the government of Qatar that has been described as a 'palace in the sky'.
The President boarded the aircraft at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday for a flight to North Dakota, where he is attending the dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library as part of the America 250 celebrations.
"I'm excited about the first flight. Nobody's ever seen anything like it," he told reporters before boarding.
"Frankly, we couldn't build a plane like this because we wouldn't be willing to spend the kind of money necessary. They spent top dollars."
The aircraft is a Boeing 747-8i jumbo jet that was originally built as a VVIP private jet for the Qatari royal family.
French interior designer Yves Pickardt spent over three years on the project, taking his cues from superyachts and luxury apartments rather than anything you would normally see on a commercial aircraft.
It has around 4,000 square feet of interior space spread across two decks but carries just 89 passengers.
A commercial airline would fit between 360 and 460 seats into the same airframe.
That ratio tells you everything about what this plane was built for.
White House reporters who toured the jet described it as feeling "more like a house than a plane".
One noted: "Big, with warm tan walls. Glossy. Silver accents throughout. Solid wood tables. Presidential seal on every seat belt."
Two. The presidential suite sits in the nose of the aircraft - the quietest part of the cabin - and includes a master bedroom with a full-size bed, a guest suite, a private office that doubles as a dining room, and two full bathrooms with showers.
Behind the suites is a private lounge with seating for nine of Trump's inner circle.
The entire forward section has its own discreet entrance, separate from the rest of the cabin.
The main deck features a central lounge with 16 seats in stitched leather, wacapou veneer tables, and a wool-silk Tai Ping carpet.
There is a six-person settee, window-adjacent recliners, and a round table with six more seats.
A custom spiral staircase - designed and certified from scratch - leads to the upper deck, where the space is laid out more like a living room than an aircraft cabin.
It has bookshelves, a corner sofa, a large flat-screen TV, and eight plush seats arranged in a club configuration over coffee tables.
The jet has more than 40 televisions across both decks, including five 55-inch monitors and four 46-inch screens, plus Blu-ray players, live broadcasting capability, and full onboard connectivity.
Five galleys are spread throughout, capable of serving 100 meals simultaneously.
There are nine lavatories in total.
The interior features sycamore and African wacapou wood, stone finishes, natural leathers, and silk textiles throughout.
The two Boeing 747-200s that have served as Air Force One since 1990 are functional military aircraft.
The presidential bedroom on those planes is modest, the private office is utilitarian, and the aesthetic is restrained.
They carry around 70 passengers with far less personal space and none of the material richness found in the Qatari jet.
Trump used one of the old planes for the G7 summit in Europe last month and said it was likely its final presidential trip.
"We'll get them fixed up a little bit, not like this one, and we'll do museums, but they're great planes, they're great history," he said at the unveiling on June 19.
He has also called it "ridiculous" that the president had been flying decades-old aircraft and described the new jet as "the world's most luxurious plane".
The Air Force prioritised speed over a complete rebuild. The interior layout was left 'minimally changed', meaning most of the original Qatari luxury finishes remain intact.
What did change was under the surface.
The aircraft was fitted with secure voice and data links, classified satellite communications, upgraded internal networks, and cryptographic equipment.
A medical unit was added. The Arabic-language exit signs and contemporary artwork were removed. Presidential seals were placed on the walls and on every seatbelt.
The exterior was repainted in red, white, and blue - replacing the baby-blue-and-white colour scheme that had been on Air Force One since the Kennedy era.
Trump said the Qatari Emir asked him what colour he wanted.
"I said, 'I like the colour of the American flag.' Right? That makes sense."
One thing the jet lacks is sufficient refrigerator space.
Unlike the previous Air Force One, it cannot carry all the food needed for long-haul presidential travel, meaning military cargo jets will shadow it across the globe carrying supplies.
The aircraft itself is valued at approximately $400 million and was donated to the US Department of Defense as an 'unconditional' gift from the Qatari government.
However, the total cost is likely significantly higher.
The US government has spent an undisclosed sum on security modifications, classified communications systems, and crew training.
Aviation experts have estimated the full project could exceed $1 billion when all costs are factored in.
The Air Force also leased a separate 747-8 last year so pilots and maintenance crews could begin training on the new model, purchased a former Lufthansa 747-8, and built a full 3D mock-up of the interior for familiarisation training.
That is the question that has followed this story since Semafor first reported on the detailed specifications of the jet in May 2025.
Qatar is a gas-rich Gulf state that hosts a major US military base and has served as a mediator in talks with both Hamas and the Taliban.
It punches well above its weight diplomatically and gives generously to governments and causes worldwide, as well as financing the Al Jazeera television network.
Trump has described the gift as "a great gesture" that would be "stupid" to turn down, saying "only a fool" would refuse it.
The White House has called it "a very public and transparent transaction".
Critics disagree. The gift came just weeks after the Trump Organization announced a deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar in collaboration with a Saudi company and a firm owned by the Qatari government.
Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner has also been in Doha for peace talks with Iran.
Donald Sherman, president of the government ethics watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, told MS NOW that the President "time and time again makes clear that he is willing to accept and actively seek gifts from foreign governments where the American people have significant national security interests".
"Some things the US government should simply pay for," he said, "and the president's plane is one of them."
He added: "Any student of history remembers that the Trojan horse was a gift, too."
This is not the first time Qatar has gifted a 747 to a NATO ally.
In 2018, Reuters reported that Qatar gave a 'luxury' jumbo jet to Turkey, drawing questions from opposition lawmakers.
President Erdoğan insisted at the time that it was "the plane of the Republic of Turkey, not my plane."
The jet has also drawn attention internationally.
During a meeting in the Oval Office in May 2025, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa appeared to take a dig at Trump over the gift, telling him: "I'm sorry, I didn't have a plane to give you."
Trump's response was typically blunt: "I wish you did. I would take it."
The Boeing 747-8i was originally configured for the Qatari royal family.
Its tail number includes the letters HBJ - the initials of Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, a leading Qatari royal and former prime minister who posted on Instagram about visiting Trump at Mar-a-Lago back in 2018.
The jet was listed for sale through the Swiss firm AMAC Aerospace around 2020, with a 16-page specification document detailing its layout, manufacturers, and interior blueprint.
That document, which is still available on AMAC's website, provides the most detailed publicly available look at the aircraft's original configuration.
Trump said at the unveiling that the plane had just 800 hours of flight time, making it practically "brand new".
The jet is set to serve as a 'bridge' Air Force One until two purpose-built Boeing 747-8 aircraft - originally due in 2024, now expected in 2028 - are delivered.
After that, the Qatari jet will reportedly be transferred to Trump's presidential library foundation, meaning he will continue to use it after his term ends.
The question of who replaces Trump in 2028 is already generating significant discussion, but whoever takes office will not inherit this particular aircraft.
Trump has said the jet will lead a group of aircraft in a "flyover like no flyover" over the White House on July 4 to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
He has also confirmed the plane will carry him to the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, next month.
The America 250 celebrations have already generated headlines of their own this week, and the new Air Force One's July 4 flyover is likely to add another.
After that, the jet becomes the primary presidential aircraft for the remainder of Trump's second term - a $400 million flying mansion with a master bedroom, a spiral staircase, and a seatbelt with the presidential seal on it.
Whether you see that as smart diplomacy or something else entirely probably depends on how you feel about the man sitting in the master bedroom at 40,000 feet.
Published 11:39 22 May 2025 GMT
Published 19:36 12 May 2025 GMT
Published 16:59 11 Mar 2022 GMT
Former President Donald Trump is said to be fundraising for a new plane, The Times reports.
According to an email sent out by The Trump Save America PAC, the reality star turned politician is asking supporters to donate money so he can take to the skies in a very special private jet - the "Trump Force One".
The latest push to raise funds for the plane comes after Trump's confidence in regular private jets was shaken when he was forced to make an emergency landing this weekend.
An email titled "Update: Trump Force One" was reportedly sent out on Wednesday just hours after news broke that the former president had made an emergency landing in New Orleans, per Business Insider.
According to reports, one of the engines on the plane Trump was flying in failed shortly after takeoff on Saturday, meaning he had to hitch a ride back to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on a GOP donor's jet.
The fundraising email teased that it contained a "very important update" on Trump Force One, urging donors to recall the days when he flew around the country on a previous version of the aircraft before being elected as "the greatest President of all time."
It also contained an animated GIF of a plane taking off with the question "Do you want to see President Trump's new plane?" and a link to a site asking for monthly donations of up to $2,5000.
The message - which was signed by Trump himself - read: "I need to trust that you won't share it with anyone: my team is building a BRAND NEW Trump Force One."
"The construction of this plane has been under wraps — not even the fake news media knows about it — and I can't wait to unveil it for everyone to see," it added.
Trump's original 'Trump Force One' was a mainstay of his 2015 presidential election campaign. He customized a Boeing 757 so it bore the Trump family crest on all headrests and pillows, had a master bedroom complete with a big-screen entertainment system, and even included a master bathroom with gold fixtures.
Published 15:54 03 Jul 2026 GMT
Online users are mocking Donald Trump after a funny detail was spotted in a photo Karoline Leavitt shared from aboard Air Force One.
The 28-year-old White House press secretary, who has been on maternity leave after giving birth to her second child, gave followers a glimpse inside the president's brand-new Air Force One after joining its inaugural flight.
On Wednesday (July 1), Leavitt shared three pictures from inside the aircraft, writing: "What a privilege to be aboard the inaugural flight on the brand new Air Force One! A truly unforgettable day."
Leavitt has traveled with the president in recent weeks despite her leave and was among those on board as the 80-year-old headed to North Dakota for the dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Also traveling with the president were his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, along with Don Jr.'s wife, Bettina Anderson.
The luxury jet, gifted to the United States by Qatar, has been redesigned with white grain leather trim on meeting tables, pillows embroidered with the presidential seal, and framed photographs of Washington landmarks throughout the cabin.
Trump opened up about his excitement about the milestone flight before boarding the aircraft in Maryland.
"We're going to the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library opening, and that'll be very good. That'll be a lot of fun," he said.
"But I think you know, to be honest with you, I'm excited about the first flight. It’s something nobody has ever seen anything like this."
He also told reporters: "I'm excited about the first flight.
"They just completed it. They made it appropriate for a president, that means the security and all of the different bells and whistles they put on. Very complex now, but it's really quite something."
Despite the luxury upgrades, online users quickly became distracted by a feature visible in one of Leavitt's photos.
The picture showed a TV screen displaying the presidential seal positioned in front of a bookshelf filled with matching hardback books.
Several appeared to have nothing more than the word "Library" printed on their spines, with no author names, publishers, or book titles visible.
The books also appeared to be arranged in matching pairs and trios, leading many online to speculate that they were purely decorative.
"Of course a plane full of people who have never read a book has a bookshelf of fake books with titles like 'Library'," one person wrote.
Another joked: "Volume III of the Library is a real nail-biter."
A third quipped: "Fake books are such a good use of taxpayer money!"
A fourth added that the shelf was "a perfect representation of the Trump administration... all show and no substance".
The aircraft's debut comes after months of criticism surrounding the gift from Qatar.
Critics have argued the jet could be viewed as an attempt by Doha to curry favor with the president, while others have questioned the need for the aircraft given that Boeing is already building two new Air Force One planes.
Those replacement 747-8 aircraft were ordered for $3.9 billion in 2018, but repeated delays have pushed their expected completion until at least mid-2028, which is near the end of Trump's second presidential term.
The Qatari aircraft is meant to bridge that gap until the new planes are delivered.
Trump has repeatedly defended accepting the present and has argued that it represents exceptional value.
"Frankly, we couldn't build a plane like this because we wouldn't be willing to spend the kind of money necessary. They spent top dollars," he said.
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