President Donald Trump will fly the older Air Force One while the new Qatari-gifted jet undergoes security upgrades.

President Donald Trump will utilize the older Air Force One jet for upcoming travels while the new, Qatari-gifted aircraft undergoes a series of security enhancements. The administration announced that while the new jet is "perfectly safe," it will be sent for approximately one month this fall to be "maxed out" with additional capabilities. The new plane, a Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar, has faced scrutiny since its debut on July 1. Although President Donald Trump praised the luxury jet as "the world's most luxurious plane," reports indicated it lacked the anti-missile defense systems found on the Cold War-era models. Following a trip to Turkey, the Secret Service urged the president to return on the older jet due to these security differences. The administration is using the new jet as a "bridge" until two new aircraft are delivered in 2028. President Donald Trump plans to keep the gifted jet for his presidential library after his term ends.

Sources