President Trump Unveils Converted Qatari Jet as New Air Force One
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ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday showed off the new Air Force One, a formerly Qatari-owned jumbo jet that has been converted into the official U.S. presidential aircraft.
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USA Today'Never been a plane like this ever built,' Trump says The new Air Force One — a Boeing 747-B that Trump accepted from the Qatari royal family in May 2025 — has been dubbed a "palace in the sky." It replaces a Boeing 747-200 that was completed in 1990 and served as Air Force One for six presidents, dating back to George H. W. Bush. Trump wanted the new plane to be operating by the Fourth of July holiday.
The Guardian USDonald Trump presented the new, temporary Air Force One at a hangar at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Friday, a day after White House officials bade farewell to one of two Boeing 747s that have been used to transport presidents for more than 30 years. The new jet was given to Trump by the Gulf emirate of Qatar, provoking political protest as the $400m (£300m) jet exceeds the limit on unsolicited gifts of $50 in value in a single calendar year from the same source
BreitbartPresident Donald Trump unveiled the new Air Force One plane Friday at Joint Base Andrews, a day after one of the two Boeing 747-200s used by presidents for nearly the last four decades completed its final trip upon returning from the G7 in France.
Associated PressPresident Donald Trump unveils the new Air Force One, a converted Qatari jet JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday showed off the new Air Force One, a formerly Qatari-owned jumbo jet that has been converted into the official U.S. presidential aircraft.
PBS NewsHourWATCH: Trump unveils new Air Force One plane gifted by Qatar at Joint Base Andrews President Donald Trump on Friday showed off the new Air Force One, a formerly Qatari-owned jumbo jet that has been converted into the official U.S. presidential aircraft.
Washington TimesPresident Trump on Friday introduced the newly refurbished aircraft donated by Qatar that will serve as Air Force One, calling it a “flying White House with a level of luxury no one has ever seen before.”
Fox NewsPresident Donald Trump on Friday unveiled a newly refurbished presidential aircraft at Joint Base Andrews, touting its size, luxury and updated red, white and blue paint scheme as the Air Force prepares the jet for service.
The HillTrump unveils new plane for Air Force One, a gift from Qatar President Trump unveiled the new Qatari-gifted Air Force One plane on Friday, saying it will fly “further and faster” than any other model of presidential plane. Trump toured the renovated Boeing jet at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. “There will never be one like this. This is very unique. This is considered the world’s most…
The Daily WireWASHINGTON — President Donald Trump unveiled his brand new Air Force One on Friday afternoon, a gift that the United States government accepted from the Qatari government in 2025.
NPR NewsTrump also spoke standing in front of the plane, thanking the Emir of Qatar. The president praised the workmanship of the plane, describing it as the "world's most luxurious plane." He also called it the "largest Air Force One ever built," adding "it flies further and faster than any Air Force One."
ReutersTrump unveils Qatari 747 ahead of joining Air Force One fleet - Reuters Trump unveils Qatari 747 ahead of joining Air Force One fleet Reuters
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He confirmed that he would be taking the new jet to the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, next month and indicated he would be returning to China “at some point,” presumably a reference to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit that China is hosting in November. His return from the Group of 7 summit in France this week was the last planned trip aboard the old Air Force One, he said.
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HuffPostHe confirmed that he would be taking the new jet to the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, next month and indicated he would be returning to China “at some point,” presumably a reference to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit that China is hosting in November. His return from the Group of 7 summit in France this week was the last planned trip aboard the old Air Force One, he said.
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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,” Trump said, noting that the colors and the design were to “my taste, I will say.”
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HuffPost“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,” Trump said, noting that the colors and the design were to “my taste, I will say.”
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The Air Force has said in the past that security modifications to the jet would cost less than $400 million.
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Associated PressThe Air Force has said in the past that security modifications to the jet would cost less than $400 million.
USA TodayPentagon officials have said the total cost of the plane's overhaul won't exceed $400 million. But aviation experts cited by NBC News estimated the overhaul of the plane could cost more than $1 billion because of the installation of multiple top-secret systems. Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
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Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
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01 The Guardian US Criticism of the gifted Qatari jet, which the Gulf state had previously tried to sell without success, included accusations that the costs of conversion could divert money from Sentinel, an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) modernization program already running years behind schedule.
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02 Breitbart Breitbart News was aboard the SAM 29000 for its final trip earlier this week. It took off early Monday morning from Joint Base Andrews for the Geneva Airport for the G7 in Évian-les-Bains. From there, it traveled to Paris on Wednesday for the president’s stop at Versailles. Its final flight departed Paris and landed at Joint Base Andrews early Thursday morning.
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03 Associated Press This story has been updated to correct the name of the air base to Joint Base Andrews, not Andrews Air Force Base, its former name.
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04 USA Today Both planes hold about the same number of passengers and have the same height. But the Qatari plane separates itself most visibly with its lavish inside amenities — including creamy tan and leather furnishings, rugs, and artwork designed by the famed French interior design firm Cabinet Alberto Pinto.
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05 Fox News Reporters were later given a brief tour of the aircraft, which featured wood-paneled interiors, gold-toned fixtures and tan-and-gold seating throughout. Spacious cabins, large television screens and polished metallic finishes gave the jet an upscale feel.
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06 Washington Times “We’re gonna have a lot of planes flying over the Capitol and the White House,” the president said. “This is going to lead the brigade.”
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07 The Daily Wire The new Air Force One has the most advanced technology that is necessary to meet the requirements of the president, prioritizing “mission over aesthetics” and leaving most of the interior layout without many changes.
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