Donald Trump unveiled the new Air Force One, a converted Qatari Boeing 747, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Friday. The aircraft, designated VC-25B and sporting a bold red, white, dark blue, and gold livery, was gifted to Trump by Qatar for $400m. This exceeds the limit on unsolicited gifts of $50 from the same source in a single calendar year.
Trump dismissed criticism of the arrangement, stating it would be "stupid" to turn down the offer. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell had previously confirmed that the secretary of defense accepted the Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with federal rules and regulations. The cost of converting the Qatari jet has been estimated at $1bn.
The new aircraft is intended as a "bridge" until two long-delayed presidential Boeings are delivered in 2027 and 2028. The original cost of these purpose-built planes was set at $3.7bn, but this figure has since ballooned to $5bn. Critics have raised concerns that the costs of conversion could divert funds from Sentinel, an ICBM modernization program already running behind schedule.
Trump praised the emir of Qatar as "a fantastic guy" who had gone through a lot in recent months. He described the new jet as "the world's most luxurious plane", built to standards that will likely never be surpassed again. Trump has argued that the new aircraft is necessary to keep pace with more modern planes flown by foreign leaders.
The two ageing 747s currently in service entered duty in 1990, during George HW Bush's presidency. One of these jets was forced to turn back from a trip to Davos earlier this year due to a technical fault. The air force has fast-tracked the retrofitting of the Qatari jet but skipped some planned modifications for the next-generation presidential plane to deliver an interim version sooner.
The new aircraft, with its colour scheme echoing that of Trump's own jet, is set to lead a formation flight over Washington DC on 4 July to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. A tour of the interior revealed a framed print of a duck swimming in the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool among its decor.
