President Donald Trump announced that the new Air Force One plane, a gift from Qatar, will be sent for upgrades soon due to concerns about its security features. Returning from the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey, Trump was questioned by reporters about the plane’s missile-defense capabilities.
“It has a lot of capability,” Trump stated about the jet, which he began using this month. He added, “But as I understand it, in about a month or so, they’re gonna send it to have it be maxed out. It’ll take about a month.” Specific details about the upgrades were not disclosed.
Earlier this month, Trump’s choice to return from a NATO summit in Turkey using a different presidential aircraft drew attention. This decision sparked speculation about the administration’s reasons for switching from the Qatari-donated jet and the new Air Force One’s readiness.
Trump addressed the media at the time, denying that security concerns influenced the decision. He remarked, “You know the life of a president is very dangerous,” and emphasized his high-profile status by adding, “I’m No. 1 on the kill list for Iran.” According to NBC News, the Secret Service recommended Trump use the older plane to depart from Turkey due to its proximity to the Middle East and heightened tensions with Iran.
Subsequently, the Justice Department subpoenaed four New York Times journalists for their reports on security issues regarding the new Air Force One.
The luxurious Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet, donated by Qatar’s royal family in 2025, was designated for Trump’s use as the new Air Force One. Trump welcomed its arrival in June at Joint Base Andrews near Washington. Displayed in a red, white, and dark blue color scheme, Trump described it as a “flying White House at a level of luxury no one has ever seen before,” stating, “nobody tops this one.” Trump first used the jet on July 1 for an event in North Dakota to honor Theodore Roosevelt.
This opulent jet serves as a temporary substitute while Boeing works on delivering the next-generation Air Force One planes, expected by 2028.
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