Trump unveils new Air Force One, a luxury Boeing in U.S. flag colors

President Donald Trump presented the newly refurbished Air Force One, a Boeing 747-8 valued at $400 million, in its first public exhibition. Trump described the aircraft as "very unique" and "the most luxurious plane in the world." The presidential plane has been repainted in the red, white, and blue colors of the U.S. flag at Trump's request, replacing the current Air Force One model that has been in service for 35 years.

The Pentagon accepted the donation from Qatar, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, despite ethical concerns and security worries. The plan is to use the Qatari plane temporarily as Air Force One while Boeing completes the construction and modernization of two new aircraft ordered during Trump's first term.

The Air Force announced the arrival of the aircraft, designated VC-25B Bridge, at Joint Base Andrews. It will begin a series of certification flights to validate its operational capabilities and safety protocols before formally joining the fleet responsible for transporting the U.S. president. The delivery addresses the need to reduce strain on the aging VC-25A fleet, which requires increasingly extensive maintenance.