President Donald Trump said the Qatari‑gifted Boeing 747‑8 serving as the new Air Force One will be sent for security upgrades and "maxed out," a process he said will take about a month.
The 747‑8 took its first flight with Trump on board on July 1 for a trip to North Dakota and later carried him to a NATO summit in Turkey, and the Secret Service urged the president to use the older Air Force One as a precaution.
Speaking on July 1, Trump praised the plane and the donation, saying, "Frankly, we couldn't build a plane like this because we wouldn't be willing to spend the kind of money necessary."
The U.S. Air Force said it had been modifying the jet in Texas since September to meet security, communications and other needs to transport the president, and the Air Force last year originally estimated it would cost less than $400 million to retrofit the gift while many retrofit details are considered classified.
The Qatari royal family's donation of the luxury jet, valued at approximately $400 million, raised questions from some lawmakers and ethics experts, and sources familiar with the proposed arrangement said the gifted plane is expected to be used as the new Air Force One until shortly before Trump leaves office, when ownership would be transferred to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation.
Trump was returning from the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey when reporters asked whether the jet lacked missile‑defense capabilities; he said, "You know the life of a president is very dangerous," and added, "I'm No. 1 on the kill list for Iran."
The jet is decked out in a red, white and dark blue color scheme and is meant to serve as a temporary replacement as Boeing works on delivering next‑generation Air Force One planes expected in 2028.