On its first official flight, Air Force One, aboard a jet gifted by Qatar, took off with President Donald Trump heading to North Dakota for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
“I’m very excited about the first flight,” Trump mentioned to reporters before boarding. “Nobody’s seen anything like it.”
This Boeing 747 was provided by Qatar to serve temporarily until two specially modified Boeing aircraft, designed for presidential use, are delivered in 2028, as stated by Air Force officials. The new planes are behind schedule from their initial 2024 timeline to replace the older jets that have been in service for over thirty years.
In the meantime, the Qatari jet has been retrofitted and will be the president’s personal aircraft, according to the Air Force.
“This was a gift from a country that’s treated us very well,” Trump said, adding, “I went to Boeing, I said, ‘Who has the best one?’ They said, ‘Qatar, there’s never been a plane like it.’”
Trump had initially approached Qatar about using the plane for a limited time, but the emir of Qatar, Tamin bin Hamad Al Thani, instead decided to give it as a contribution to the U.S.
After the new aircraft are received, Trump has noted that the Qatari jet will be donated to a future presidential library.
The red, white, and blue airplane departed from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, bound for North Dakota, where Trump will participate in a Freedom 250 train ride and tour the library in Medora. He is anticipated to make remarks after the tour.
