Qatar’s $400 Million Air Force One Gift: Trump Unveils Luxury Boeing 747 With New Colors Ahead Of July 4 Flyover
According to NPR, the Qatari-gifted Boeing 747 destined to become Air Force One arrived ahead of schedule at Joint Base Andrews on Friday, with President Trump touring the aircraft in person.
Originally valued at $400 million, the jumbo jet underwent a complex military overhaul adding secure communications and anti-missile defense systems, while keeping much of Qatar’s original ultra-luxury interior intact.
Trump unveiled a new red, white and navy livery, replacing the Kennedy-era light blue design used since the 1960s. He called it the “world’s most luxurious plane” and said it will lead a July 4 flyover over Washington marking America’s 250th anniversary.
This matters because the gift sparked bipartisan criticism over accepting a foreign government’s aircraft for presidential use, raising both ethics and security questions that Trump has repeatedly dismissed.
The plane will serve as a bridge aircraft until Boeing delivers a custom-built fleet, expected by 2028. Check out our previous coverage of US politics and government spending here.
