A Boeing 747 jet donated by Qatar to the United States last year will enter service as a temporary Air Force One this summer. The aircraft has completed modifications and flight testing, with painting underway for a new red, white, and blue livery.
Timeline and Modifications
The Air Force confirms the plane remains on track for rollout this summer. This interim presidential aircraft bridges the gap until two new 747s finish development for full-time White House use. The military initiated the search for a suitable 747-8 in December 2024 and accepted Qatar’s jet in May 2025.
Workers invested around $400 million in upgrades, installing advanced secure communications systems and inspecting the interior for potential surveillance devices. Technicians dismantled sections to ensure security.
Interior Features and Design
The overhaul preserved much of the jet’s luxurious Qatar-era interior, including plush couches, faux library bookcases, and oversized leather seats. Crews removed Arabic-language signs. Gen. Dale White, the four-star Air Force official overseeing the project, stated, “By and large, the airplane that we’re getting is in the same condition from an interior perspective.” He added, “The level of detail that the foreign nations put into their head-of-state airplanes are very different than the approach that the United States uses, which is a lot more utility focused.”
The president chose the exterior red, white, and blue scheme. The updated jet features fewer refrigerators than current models and lacks a dedicated press area, relying instead on a heavy curtain to divide media from staff.
Controversy and Responses
The donation sparked debate over national security risks, potential violations of constitutional rules on foreign gifts to the president, and ethical concerns tied to Qatar’s ties to groups like Hamas. President Trump defended the arrangement on social media, writing, “The wonderful country of Qatar, after agreeing to invest more than 1.4 Trillion Dollars in the United States of America, deserves much better than Misleading (Fake!) News.” He clarified, “Everyone, including their lawyers, has been told that ABC must not say that Qatar is giving ME a FREE Boeing 747 Airplane, because they are not. Instead, and as Fake News ABC fully knows and understands, this highly respected country is donating the plane to the United States Air Force/ Defense Department, AND NOT TO ME.”
Post-Presidency Plans
Following the president’s term, the jet will transfer to his presidential library foundation. Recent renderings depict the library in a Miami skyscraper, featuring a presidential aircraft display in the lobby.
