Trump Unveils Qatar's Gifted Boeing 747-8 Jet as New Air Force One

Washington DC. US President Donald Trump has unveiled the new Boeing 747-8 jet, gifted by the Qatari government 'unconditionally' last year for 'Air Force One'.

Trump unveiled the luxurious jumbo jet, worth approximately 400 million US dollars, after the US military completed its modification work. Speaking at a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews on Friday, Trump said, 'This plane has been transformed into a flying White House with a level of luxury never seen before.' According to the US Air Force, final test flights will begin to test the aircraft's modifications before it transports the President.

The Air Force stated in a press release that security, mission communications, logistical support, and advanced technologies have been upgraded during the aircraft's modification. The military also clarified that any potential security threats from the aircraft, previously owned by another country, have been completely neutralized. While the interior of the aircraft has been minimally altered, the exterior has been repainted in new colors of red, white, blue, and gold.

In May 2025, the Qatari royal family gifted this luxurious Boeing 747-8 aircraft to the US Department of Defense to be part of Air Force One for presidential air transport. After news of receiving this expensive aircraft as a gift surfaced last year, many of Trump's allies and leaders from both political parties strongly criticized it.

Critics argued that accepting a gift of such high value would be a conflict of interest and could be unconstitutional. Although federal law allows US officials to accept gifts worth less than $480, the White House has maintained that accepting this aircraft is legally correct. The White House has pledged that this aircraft will be donated to the Presidential Library after Trump leaves office.

Praising the aircraft, Trump added, 'You won't believe the structure and craftsmanship of this plane if you see it. The quality of the materials and engines used is the best in the world, it has no equal. This is truly an honor, and I want to thank the Amir of Qatar.'

Before the addition of the Qatari jet, the two 747-200B jets, in service since the 1990s, served as the fleet for Air Force One. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung indicated on social media X with a picture of the old plane, calling it a 'last ride,' that one of those older models has now been retired.

The Air Force stated that the President will use this Qatari jet for an interim period due to delays in the production of the two VC-25B jets that Boeing had promised for the long-term Air Force One.