Trump unveils new Air Force One, a Qatari-gifted jumbo jet with a bolder look

President Donald Trump on Friday showcased the newly converted Air Force One, a jumbo jet formerly owned by Qatar, which has been transformed into the official US presidential aircraft.

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This plane was transformed into a flying White House at a level of luxury that nobody has ever seen before

The unveiling at Joint Base Andrews revealed a striking departure from the previous aircraft's aesthetic. The new plane sports a bolder exterior, with its underbelly painted navy blue and a red stripe accentuating the design, a significant change from the Kennedy-era robin's egg blue. The presidential seal adorns the left side, and a large American flag is emblazoned on the tail.

Inside, Trump described the aircraft as a "flying White House at a level of luxury that nobody has ever seen before." He made the dramatic reveal as his signature song, "God Bless the USA," played, and he stepped off the plane before a crowd of Air Force personnel. He confirmed the new jet would be used for his upcoming trip to the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, and potentially for a return to China for the APEC summit.

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Now, when we land at airports in London and in Germany and different places, nobody tops this one, and that’s the way we have to have it for our country

This Qatari-gifted Boeing 747 will act as a "bridge" aircraft until the new presidential planes, ordered directly from Boeing, are delivered, a process currently slated for 2028. The administration's acceptance of the luxury jet last year faced ethical questions, but Trump has defended its necessity, stating that the country must be "represented properly." He also mentioned the new Air Force One would perform a flyover during the July 4 celebrations.

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See, a normal president wouldn’t do this. A normal president wants to stay away from aircraft. But our country has to be represented properly.