Trump will fly to Ireland on Qatar’s Air Force One before security overhaul

Donald Trump said he will fly to Ireland next week aboard the Boeing 747 donated by Qatar, despite continuing security concerns surrounding the aircraft.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said the plane would be “reinforced to the maximum.” He said it contained many features, but reaching the highest security level would take about 60 days. The aircraft is scheduled to undergo a review in October.

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It is going to be reinforced to the maximum.

The timeline for the modifications has doubled from the one month Trump initially cited. The White House declined to comment on the upgrades. A senior administration official told AFP that the government maintains a secure, protected and reliable presidential capability and updates it as needed.

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It has a lot of things, but to bring it to the highest level will take about 60 days, and it will be sent for review in October.

The aircraft became controversial after Trump reportedly changed planes twice while leaving a NATO summit in Ankara in July. Critics have also raised ethical and security concerns about the United States accepting such a valuable gift from a foreign power.

Qatar delivered the luxury Boeing 747 in 2025 after Trump complained that the existing presidential aircraft were aging and that replacement planes were delayed.

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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 we routinely update that capability as needed to maintain that posture.