Trump Flies on Upgraded Air Force One Donated by Qatar
US President Donald Trump took his first flight on the newly upgraded Air Force One 747 on Wednesday, a plane gifted by the Qatari royal family. The aircraft, which Trump described as "the greatest commercial plane ever built," landed at Joint Base Andrews following a visit to North Dakota for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
"So this will be the first flight of what I think is maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built," Trump said. "I said to Boeing, what's the best one? They said this is the best plane ever built and you're going to have the privilege of flying it, and I have a privilege also of flying it."
Unconditional Gift Worth $400 Million Raises Concerns
The gift, estimated to be worth approximately $400 million, was unconditional, but it immediately sparked questions on legal, ethical, and national security grounds. The plane features a new color scheme of white, red, and navy blue, along with other modifications that make it similar to Trump's personal jet, according to CNN.
"This is a plane that the United States of America should have. Our Air Force One was 35, 36 years old and it would be parked next to the new ones like this and it really didn't look appropriate for our country," Trump said. "So we're very proud of this. The country is very proud of it. And you can do two things: you can low-key it or you can show it. And I think the country should be very proud of it."
Trump Says US Could Not Build Such a Plane
Trump further stated that the United States could not build a plane like the gifted aircraft, and that it cost very little compared to what it would have cost if done differently. "Well it cost very little relative to what it would cost if we did it a different way. So this was a gift from a country that's treated us very well and they're an ally of us over in the Middle East, Qatar," he said. "And I went to Boeing, I said 'who has the best one?' They said 'Qatar. There's no, there's never been a plane like it.' Frankly, we couldn't build a plane like this because we wouldn't be willing to spend the kind of money necessary. They spent top dollar."
White House: Donation to Air Force, Not Personal Gift
Earlier on May 19, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that the plane is a donation to the United States Air Force, not a personal gift to the President. "The government of Qatar, the Qatari family, has offered to donate this plane to the United States Air Force, where that donation will be accepted according to all legal and ethical obligations," Leavitt said. "It will be retrofitted to the highest of standards by the Department of Defense and the United States Air Force. This plane is not a personal donation or gift to the President of the United States." She added that the timeline for the project is under the Air Force's purview, and the President has nothing to do with it.
