President Trump will send the new Qatar-gifted Air Force One for security upgrades this fall to maximize its capabilities.
President Trump stated that the new Qatar-gifted Air Force One will undergo a series of upgrades to be "maxed out" regarding its security features. The administration announced that these enhancements will take approximately one month to complete this fall. While the new Boeing 747-B is considered a state-of-the-art aircraft, officials acknowledged that it may lack some of the high-level missile-defense capabilities found in the previous presidential plane. The new jet, which President Trump accepted as a gift from the Qatari royal family, serves as a "bridge" aircraft until two new planes are delivered in 2028. Although the administration maintains the plane is perfectly safe for travel, security concerns led President Trump to fly on the older Air Force One during a recent trip to Turkey. The administration also launched an investigation into the media reporting regarding these security concerns, which included subpoenaing reporters from the New York Times. President Trump expects to use the new jet for domestic trips and potentially low-risk international destinations.