United States President Donald Trump has officially debuted a new Air Force One aircraft, completing an inaugural flight from the White House to North Dakota for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
The $400 million Boeing 747-8 jet was given as an unconditional gift to the U.S. Air Force by the government of Qatar last year. To address national security and ethical concerns regarding its foreign origin, the Department of Defence subjected the plane to intensive counterintelligence sweeps, security reviews, and military retrofitting before clearing it for official presidential travel.
Before takeoff at Joint Base Andrews, President Trump expressed immense enthusiasm for the plane, calling it the “greatest commercial plane ever built.”
“You can low-key it or you can show it. And I think the country should be very proud of it. And it’s beautiful,” Trump told reporters under the wing of the jet.
The upgraded jumbo jet is larger than the 30-year-old plane it replaces, featuring a fuselage that is 20 feet longer and a wingspan that is 30 feet wider. It also features a new red, white, dark blue, and gold exterior paint scheme personally selected by the president. Inside, the plane is equipped with high-tech upgrades, including reclining seats with built-in massage functions, individual electronic charging stations, and personal media screens at every seat for streaming.
According to senior administration officials, the modified Boeing 747-8 will serve as a temporary operational bridge for presidential travel. It is expected to remain in active service until Boeing delivers its permanently customised, newly built replacements closer to 2028.
