President Donald Trump unveiled a luxury Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar last year and set to become the new Air Force One. The aircraft, valued at $400 million, was presented at a ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, where Trump stepped down from the plane’s stairs and called it “the most luxurious plane in the world,” saying it was built “at a level that will not be seen again.” He also said the hangar used for the debut had to be built specifically to house it.
The U.S. Air Force said the jet will now begin test flights, which will serve as the final evaluation before it carries the president. Trump said he wants a large flyover in Washington on July 4, the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. The Air Force said the aircraft is “safe, secure and equipped with the most advanced technologies required to meet the presidential mission.”
The jet’s exterior has been repainted in red, white and blue, while most of the lavish interior associated with Qatar’s royal family remains in place, including large leather seats, velvet sofas and wood-like bookshelves. For security reasons, the plane was stripped down and then reassembled, but the Air Force said it prioritized operational readiness over aesthetics. The only visible changes inside were the removal of Arabic exit signs and contemporary Qatari artwork, replaced with U.S. presidential symbols.
Trump also thanked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he deserved credit for wartime cooperation, and praised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar’s emir. The Qatari jet will replace the 30-plus-year-old Boeing 747-2 that has served U.S. presidents for decades. Its acceptance has sparked political controversy in the United States over conflict-of-interest and security concerns, which Trump dismissed last year, arguing that taxpayers should not have to pay hundreds of millions of dollars if the military could receive the plane for free.
