President Donald Trump on Friday unveiled the Air Power One 747 that was donated to the Protection Division by the Qatari royal household.
At an occasion at Joint Base Andrews, Trump descended the steps of the newly outfitted jet to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” He claimed the jet is “just about double in dimension” to the Boeing VC-25As which have served because the presidential aircraft since 1990.
The plane will function a “bridge” Air Power One till the 2 new ones being constructed by Boeing can be prepared someday in 2028.
President Donald Trump gestures as he excursions the VC-25B plane gifted by Qatar that can be used as Air Power One, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 19, 2026.
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
“That is thought-about the world’s most luxurious aircraft. When it was constructed, it was constructed at a degree that can in all probability by no means be seen once more,” Trump stated of the jet, which is roughly 14 years outdated.
The $400 million jet raised questions from some lawmakers and ethics specialists over the unprecedented international present.
The Trump administration accepted the jet from the Qatari royal household final July. It’s for use as the brand new Air Power One till shortly earlier than he leaves workplace, at which era possession of the aircraft can be transferred to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Basis, sources conversant in the proposed association have informed ABC Information. The Air Power has been modifying the jet in Texas since September to satisfy the safety, communications and different wants to move the president.
Trump identified the waving American flag on the brand new aircraft’s tail fin.
“We’ve got our lovely American flag, and we put the wave in it, as you understand, we have all the time gone with a straight little noodle, and I by no means beloved that. Now now we have a wavy, lovely flag, we’re waving it proudly, as a result of our nation is doing so nicely,” Trump stated on the aircraft’s new hangar.
Trump claimed that the aircraft “flies additional and sooner than any Air Power One” and that it is “consultant of our nation.”
“Flies additional, you do not have to cease for gas each few hours. You possibly won’t ever need to cease for you, received they name it limitless. Properly, it is fairly near limitless, and which is among the many most lovely plane the Air Power will ever see or function,” Trump stated.
The Air Power’s VC-25B Bridge plane has arrived on the Presidential Airlift Group and can begin its preliminary commissioning flights, marking the profitable supply of a safe, modified government platform.
USAF
Air Power One carrying President Donald Trump lands at Geneva Airport forward of the G7 summit, in Geneva, Switzerland, June 15, 2026.
Jean-Christophe Bott/Pool through AP
“That is consultant of our nation. Now, once we land at airports in London and in Germany and totally different locations, no person tops this one, and that is the best way now we have to have it for our nation. No person even comes shut,” he added.
One of many two 747s at present getting used as Air Power One is at present in upkeep. The remaining plane can be used together with the just lately gifted jet.
Trump stated the Air Power One he used to journey to the G7 in Europe final week was the final deliberate journey for the aircraft and that it’s going to seemingly go right into a museum.
“We’ll get them fastened up slightly bit, not like this one, and we’ll do museums, however they’re nice planes, they’re nice historical past,” Trump stated.
Trump stated the aircraft he unveiled Friday had 800 hours of flight time, which he stated is virtually “model new,” and that he requested the Emir of Qatar to make use of the aircraft.
“We have been — had slightly little bit of a logjam. We’re ready for the I name them, the conventional 747s, And I requested the Emir if we might use the model new 747 that he received,” Trump stated.
“I stated, we would like to make use of it for a short time as a result of the planes are fairly outdated, our planes are outdated,” he added.
ABC Information’ Steve Beynon contributed to this report.
