Trump will fly Qatar-gifted Air Force One to Ireland, U.S. officials say

President Donald Trump plans to take the new Air Force One gifted by Qatar to Ireland in mid-September, multiple U.S. officials told CBS News.

The trip will mark the aircraft’s first overseas flight since Trump traveled to Turkey for a NATO summit. During that trip, the Qatari plane flew ahead to Britain after U.S. intelligence identified a credible threat involving a possible missile attack on Air Force One. Trump later changed aircraft secretly when leaving Ankara.

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maxed out

Trump said in July that the plane would be “maxed out” and that upgrades would take about a month. Karoline Leavitt, then the White House press secretary, said the aircraft would receive enhancements in the fall. The administration declined to provide details about modifications made since the Turkey trip.

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We maintain a consistent posture that ensures a safe, secure, and reliable capability for the President of the United States and routinely evolve the capability as required to maintain that posture.

A senior administration official said, “We maintain a consistent posture that ensures a safe, secure, and reliable capability for the President of the United States and routinely evolve the capability as required to maintain that posture.”

Trump is scheduled to attend the Irish Open at his golf course in Doonbeg. He told Taoiseach Micheál Martin in March that it was “a great honor to be chosen” to host the tournament and said he would try to attend. He is also expected to meet Martin and possibly Irish President Catherine Connolly. Trump is expected to continue using the Qatari plane for domestic travel.

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it was a great honor to be chosen