Trump unveils Qatari 747 ahead of joining Air Force One fleet

U.S. President Donald Trump inspected a luxurious Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, which is being prepared to join the Air Force One fleet. Trump toured the aircraft at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, describing it as potentially "the world's most luxurious plane" and a model that "will probably never be seen again."

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This is considered the world's most luxurious plane. When it was built, it was built at a level that will probably never be seen again.

The jumbo jet, offered by Qatar last year, underwent an overhaul by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies. It has been flight-tested and painted in a new red, white, dark blue, and gold livery selected by Trump, departing from the traditional Air Force One design. Trump stated the upgrade was necessary to match the modern aircraft flown by foreign leaders, expressing that it was "a little ridiculous" for other countries to have newer, better planes.

This addition aims to provide a more modern and luxurious travel experience for the president, his staff, and security detail. However, the upgrade's cost remains undisclosed. Concerns have been raised by some experts regarding the aircraft's security, as the fast-track effort reportedly skipped some planned modifications for the next-generation presidential jet to accelerate delivery.

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These countries have a lot of respect for us, and yet they have a plane that’s much newer and much better. It’s a little ridiculous.

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink assured that "the safety and security of the commander in chief is our highest priority." He stated that every requirement was meticulously evaluated to speed up delivery while maintaining the high standards for the presidential mission. Trump also announced that this aircraft would lead a "biggest flyover in American history" during a July 4 ceremony on the National Mall. The aging Boeing 747-200 that has served presidents for over three decades is slated for museum placement after its final trip.

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The safety and security of the commander in chief is our highest priority. From the beginning, we meticulously evaluated every requirement to accelerate delivery while maintaining the high standards expected of the presidential mission.