Trump Flies Qatar-Gifted 747-8i as New Air Force One
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- Donald Trump made his first presidential trip aboard a refurbished Boeing 747-8i previously owned by Qatar, flying from Joint Base Andrews to North Dakota to inaugurate the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
- The new Air Force One features a red, white, and dark navy blue livery with a flowing American flag across the tail, replacing the robin's egg blue scheme introduced during George H.W. Bush's presidency.
- The Boeing 747-8i will serve as a temporary 'bridge' aircraft until Boeing delivers the next-generation Air Force One fleet, now expected by 2028, while the existing VC-25A fleet is retired after nearly four decades of presidential service.
- The U.S. Air Force completed extensive modifications including advanced security systems and specialized communications equipment, estimating the conversion cost at less than $400 million.
- Trump's acceptance of the luxury aircraft from Qatar has drawn scrutiny in Washington over the rare decision to receive a presidential jet from a foreign government, though Trump defended it as cost-saving and praised Qatar's emir.
- Trump announced the new aircraft will perform a flyover during July 4 celebrations on the National Mall marking America's 250th anniversary and will be used for next month's NATO summit in Turkey.
Why it matters: Accepting a $400-million-conversion foreign-donated aircraft sets an unprecedented precedent for U.S. presidential transport, and the choice to fast-track a foreign-gifted 747-8i rather than wait for Boeing's delayed domestic replacement — now pushed to 2028 — signals the White House prioritized optics and speed over the standard procurement process.
