The largest variant of Boeing’s 747 family, a stretched, long-haul airliner
President Donald Trump has unveiled a Qatari‑donated Boeing 747 that the Air Force has converted and repainted as a temporary Air Force One. The plane has completed flight testing, will serve as a "bridge" until purpose‑built VC‑25Bs arrive around 2028, and has drawn questions about cost, security and the ethics of accepting a foreign gift.
The Qatar-gifted Air Force One has a redesigned interior and new color scheme. Officials say it remains a temporary measure as Boeing delivers long-delayed replacements; critics question ethics and cost. The president is traveling to North Dakota for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library opening; updates emphasize ongoing controversy and transparency around the gift.
Donald Trump is flying aboard a Qatar-gifted Air Force One for the first time. The jet’s use and the source of the gift have drawn bipartisan criticism over potential conflicts of interest as questions about funding and security upgrades persist.
President Trump has begun flying a $400m Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar but used an older Air Force One during a July NATO trip after officials raised security concerns. The administration has launched a leak probe led by the FBI director and White House chief of staff; The New York Times reporters were subpoenaed as investigators sought sources about the jet's defensive capabilities.
The Qatar-donated Air Force One has entered service but is undergoing security upgrades. Lawmakers have questioned funding and oversight as the jet is retrofit for presidential use, while the outgoing model remains in use for certain trips. The presidency is balancing diplomatic gifts with rigorous security needs amid ongoing scrutiny.
The government has pursued subpoenas for journalists’ phone and text records and grand jury testimony, prompting court scrutiny as reporters push back. Agencies concede procedural missteps; the investigation remains active as press freedom concerns mount.