President Donald Trump unveiled a luxury Boeing 747-8 he received as a gift from Qatar last year, saying it will serve as the new Air Force One. The aircraft, valued at $400 million, was presented at a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, where Trump descended from its steps and said it was “the most luxurious plane in the world” and built “at a level that will not be seen again.” He also said a hangar had to be built במיוחד to house it.
The U.S. Air Force said the plane will now begin operational flights that will serve as final testing before it carries the president. Trump said he wants a massive flyover on July 4, the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. The Air Force described the jet as “safe, secure and equipped with the most advanced technologies needed to meet the requirements of the presidential mission.”
The interior, originally designed for Qatar’s royal family, remains largely intact despite a full security-related stripping and reassembly. It still features oversized leather seats, velvet sofas and wood-like bookshelves. The only visible changes were the removal of Arabic exit signs and contemporary Qatari artwork, replaced with U.S. presidential symbols. Trump did not choose the interior, but he did select the exterior paint scheme in red, white and blue, which he said he liked.
The plane will replace the 747-2 that has served U.S. presidents for more than 30 years. Its transfer sparked major political controversy in the United States, with accusations of conflicts of interest and security risks because it came from a foreign state. Trump previously dismissed that criticism on Truth Social, saying it would be foolish for the military and taxpayers to pay hundreds of millions of dollars for something they could receive for free.
