In the spring of 2025, we learned how President Trump wasn’t happy with the state of the Air Force One fleet, which consists of modified Boeing 747s that are referred to as the Boeing VC-25. While a new Air Force One fleet is under development, there have been huge delays, and Trump wanted a new jet during his term. Well, that’s now one step closer to becoming a reality, as this plane will soon be entering service.
In this post:
Trump’s new Boeing 747-8 has now been delivered!
On Friday, June 19, 2026, Trump showed off his new “toy” at Joint Base Andrews, which has just been delivered. This is a Boeing 747-8 that was previously owned by the Qatari royal family. The plane will now undergo some commissioning flying, before it’s able to carry the president. However, the Air Force notes that the plane is already “safe, secure and equipped with the most advanced technologies necessary to meet the requirements of the presidential mission.”
The Air Force claims that it prioritized operational readiness over aesthetics, leaving the “interior layout minimally changed.” That’s funny, because the interior is way nicer than in the old Air Force One, and for that matter, I think a Middle Eastern royal and Trump have similar interior design preferences. During the unveiling, Trump even bragged about how “this plane was transformed into a flying White House at a level of luxury that nobody’s ever seen before.”
The plane has also received Trump’s preferred red, white, and blue livery, a huge departure from the historic white and baby blue livery that was on Air Force One. Trump also talked about how “a normal president wouldn’t do this, a normal president wants to stay away from aircraft, but our country has to be represented properly.”
The timing of this delivery is no coincidence, as it comes just ahead of the 250th birthday of the United States, and the plan is for the plane to do a flyover of Washington DC on July 4.
Of course it’s not the plane as such that’s the story here
What makes this most interesting isn’t that there’s a new plane that’s going to act as Air Force One, but instead, how it was acquired, and what happens with it after (if?) Trump leaves office.
Trump promotes how he got the best deal imaginable for our country, as the $400 million jet was a gift from Qatar, which had some spare “royal” planes sitting around. As he wrote on social media at the time:
“why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE from a country that wants to reward us for a job well done. Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country.”
Now, let’s ignore the conflict of interest of having a foreign (let alone non-democratically elected) government making a gift like this to the “country,” and the potential conflict of interest that creates.
Was this really a “deal” for taxpayers? Well, let’s look at the facts. First of all, hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent updating the plane, so that it has the equipment required to carry the president. As you’d expect, Air Force One isn’t just a typical plane in terms of the safety equipment onboard.
Okay, but that’s a long term investment in our country, right? Not so much, due to what happens after he leaves office, which should be in early 2029. This isn’t a gift to the United States, but instead, it’s a gift to Trump. So the idea is that he’ll get to keep the plane, and it will go into his presidential library. Now, I’m not sure what exactly a new plane is going to do there, and I can’t help but wonder if he really won’t devise a way to fly on this plane after he leaves office. But maybe that’s just a conspiracy theory.
Either way, if we actually care about America and its taxpayers, you’d think the plane would stay around with the Air Force, so that it could be used by future presidents, right? If nothing else, there’s huge value to the engines and other spare parts, which taxpayers will otherwise be on the hook for. After all, we also recently saw the Air Force purchase two former Lufthansa Boeing 747-8s, which will be used for presidential fleet support. Those are costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, when this plane could otherwise serve that function in the future as well.
For what it’s worth, the long term plan is for there to be two purpose-built planes that can act as Air Force One. However, those are years behind schedule, and billions over budget. While the current timeline is that they should enter service in 2028, that’s far from a sure bet. One certainly wonders what will happen if they’re delayed beyond early 2029, and Trump takes his plane with him…
Bottom line
President Trump is clearly overjoyed to be getting “his” new Air Force One, a $400 million gift from Qatar, with hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars also being spent on the retrofit to get it ready for flying the president.
It goes without saying this is controversial — not only is this a gift from a foreign government, but it’s also going to Trump’s presidential library when he leaves office, rather than staying with the Air Force. Americans might be struggling to make ends meet, but at least we can be happy knowing that the plane has a “level of luxury that nobody’s ever seen before,” and that therefore our country will be “represented properly.”
To my fellow Americans, how are you feeling about this — proud, or really super duper proud?
I’m surprised there’s not a red goat on the tail.
"To my fellow Americans, how are you feeling about this — proud, or really super duper proud?"
Why don't you just stick to talking about travel and keep your political views to yourself. Why not just be impartial and let everyone enjoy your content. Rather then aggravate half the country who clearly voted Trump.
If he was renting it liberals would say "why is he spending money renting" If he bought it "...
"To my fellow Americans, how are you feeling about this — proud, or really super duper proud?"
Why don't you just stick to talking about travel and keep your political views to yourself. Why not just be impartial and let everyone enjoy your content. Rather then aggravate half the country who clearly voted Trump.
If he was renting it liberals would say "why is he spending money renting" If he bought it " why is he spending tax payers money buying it" If he is gifted it to the US at no cost to the Tax Payer "why is he being gifted it" Guy cant win.
Its an airplane and its a boeing and its going to fly, so why should Ben ignore such important flying news.
Our comments are the color comments.
Whenever one of these closeted Trumpers come on here to demand we not discuss things, I can't help but think of the parents in that movie: "No politics, we want the jobs the comet will bring..." (Don't Look Up, 2020) *they all die from the comet*
Totally agree. I could’ve easily predicted what 99% of the comments on this site were going to be. I love the travel advice, but political bias, and the overwhelming ads on the site are starting to get to me.
(Oh no, Ben's losing Shunter96e... what ever will he do...)
You meant to say "grifted" not "gifted."
God nothing would be better than for this plane to pull a "Concord-ski" and crash during its July 4 flyover.
In which no one is hurt or worse, of course. Just a write-off. And, all that said, it does look pretty sharp!
Political posting.
Who, the President? Yeah, I guess it is kinda “political” for him to do this whole stunt, painting the presidential plane a different color. Got’em!
Release All The Unredacted Epstein Files
God Bless America ! Happy 250th birthday ! We need the Trump 250 dollar bill. Greatest President and nation in the history of civilization. Trump 2028. I’m going to vote for him 4 times. Never been done before.
Even if you like Trump, this level of adoration is weird.
God Bless you! as a Venezuelan I can't express enough gratitude that you voted for our Freedom! after 27 years of genocide and the rest of the world looking the other way
Can’t tell if this is sarcasm or not. With the way MAGA worships the man and all…
'The plane will go into Trump’s presidential library." Ben, I know this has been common speculation, but everything I see is that the DOD owns it and has not specified its use after the two new join the fleet. Since it is quite possible the new ones won't come online prior to Feb 2029, the next president would likely have a say. And, I don't imagine a Dem 48 (really 46) would allow it as...
'The plane will go into Trump’s presidential library." Ben, I know this has been common speculation, but everything I see is that the DOD owns it and has not specified its use after the two new join the fleet. Since it is quite possible the new ones won't come online prior to Feb 2029, the next president would likely have a say. And, I don't imagine a Dem 48 (really 46) would allow it as a gift to Trump's "library" (mostly poorly done coloring books and Archie comics).
Say what you will about Trump, I've never seen a better looking plane in my life.
You forgot the “/s”
(American Airlines current livery is better representation of the USA than this clip-art farce.)
It’s obvious the writer of this article has TDS
Sad but true. Otherwise a generational talent. A lack of new products and zero new sweet spots, does it even matter anymore?
This is not a real Airforce 1. It’s an oversized taxi to take Donny down to Florida every weekend to play golf.
If shit gets real, the President will board the light blue 747.
A grifted flying palace so to say.
Breathtaking corruption but yes does look better than current AF1
Donald Trump is the greatest President the world has ever seen. He deserves the new jet.
The plane is the property of the United States. He cannot be allowed to take it with him.
Say what you will about Trump but it’s inarguable that the new livery is absolutely stunning!
The 787 is the Dreamliner. This "gifted" 747-800 should be called the "Bribeliner".
I find it interesting thatout of the 74 comments received, the only ones you "featured" were critical of the President! Says a lot about your perspective.
Sounds like MAGA “thinking” at its finest. The top three most community-liked comments always show there on every article. Moron
You understand the featured comments are those that received the most "helpful" votes?
It's a Flying Bordello - which is perfect for Trump.
Hope it works better than his renovation of the Refecting Pool (intentional).
No bid contract, typical T-Rump grift.
Who is paying for the flyover in DC? Should come out of Donald's paycheck.
There is NO Donald Pay Check... He is not cashing it and gives it to some patriotic charity...
How are you going to turn THAT into a Trump negative ?
Because the $400,000.00 he is "donating to some white nationalist "charity"" is a drop in his Billion Dollar Grift Bucket.
A grifted flying palace so to say.
It’s stunning!
This is obscene. Seriously….how is this plane ready when the other two new Air Force One aircraft are not? It cannot possibly have all the specs of a real one because they would have to strip it to its bare bones to retrofit it. That would entail removing the golden fixtures and toilet seats. No, I am pretty sure they just slapped that tacky paint job on the plane as is and call it good.
That's my thinking. I'm going to laugh if he never actually gets to fly on it because of that.
Mam o' Man there are some
haters out there.
Y'all are so mad at TRUMP because its costing a few million here and a few million there to update this plane, when the original planes were DELAYED by BOEING, the costs went WAAAAAAAAYYYYYY over budget (into the BILLIONS), and you, the taxpayer were footing the bill! I mean seriously, make it make sense, you guys are fuming over the equivalent of $100 on a $50,000 car or something. give me a break
Tell us when YOU paid 84 million for a service manual or 21% of the declared value of a vehicle. We're not quibbling about a 100 bucks sweetie
The government overpays for EVERYTHING...You clearly have no idea how government contracts work and how much companies screw over the government just because they know they will pay it. That is from the federal government, down to the state, down to the country, and local municipalities. Governments ALWAYS overpay.
Isn't Boeing on a fixed-price contract, thus they eat the cost overruns?
It's a great day to be an American! Absolutely gorgeous! If the other planes aren't ready to go and trump takes his plane with them, they can use the old one...Come on Lucky. Use your head.
It's not a gift; gifts don't come with strings attached. It's a flying bribe, for all the world to see.
I’d much prefer my bribes to come in the form of Delft Blue Houses anyway…
"This isn’t a gift to the United States, but instead, it’s a gift to Trump."
This statement is patently false. The aircraft belongs to the US government. Even if it goes to the Trump presidential library it likely belongs to the National Archive as all official documents and "artifacts" in presidential libraries do. If there's a case that this isn't an "artifact" then it belongs to the library foundation. If Trump owned it he...
"This isn’t a gift to the United States, but instead, it’s a gift to Trump."
This statement is patently false. The aircraft belongs to the US government. Even if it goes to the Trump presidential library it likely belongs to the National Archive as all official documents and "artifacts" in presidential libraries do. If there's a case that this isn't an "artifact" then it belongs to the library foundation. If Trump owned it he just might have a significant yearly property tax bill.
Yes, it belongs to the US government, and I'm sure it will end up in government hands after Trump's term - just like that stash of secret documents the FBI found in the spare bathroom in Mar-a-lago.
Or the White House furniture the Clintons attempted to take home? Come on....are you comparing slipping away with paper documents, as too many have done (including Biden's stash in his carport) to making off with a plane weighing a half million pounds?
@Mark F
Mike Pence also had documents. Do you remember what the difference between Trump and Biden/Pence was? When Biden and Pence realized they still had official documents, they *immediately* gave them up to NARA. Trump lied, obfuscated, and misdirected, trying to hold on to "his" documents. They weren't his documents though. They were the government's. The docs he took included top secret ones relating to our nuclear and military capabilities. He was treated...
@Mark F
Mike Pence also had documents. Do you remember what the difference between Trump and Biden/Pence was? When Biden and Pence realized they still had official documents, they *immediately* gave them up to NARA. Trump lied, obfuscated, and misdirected, trying to hold on to "his" documents. They weren't his documents though. They were the government's. The docs he took included top secret ones relating to our nuclear and military capabilities. He was treated with kiddy gloves the whole freaking time, and he should be rotting in jail for what he did. Anyone else would be in the slammer if we walked out with the shit he did.
"If Trump owned it he just might have a significant yearly property tax bill." Where in the US is a plane subject to property tax?
California, Georgia, Wyoming, Texas, Alabama, and Arkansas. North Carolina charges a yearly use tax, but mercifully it caps out at $2,500. Other states charge similar yearly taxes on boats and may see aircraft as the next "logical" step to increase revenue. Some states also charge the equivalent of sales tax when a private aircraft's home base is moved into the state (California = 7.25%). Crazy.
A corrupt president for a corrupt future/nation of ppl.
Welcome... To CNN...
Absolutely gorgeous. Stunningly beautiful. Thank you President Trump.
A no-bid contract on the paint job means the navy will peel off soon, just like your boy’s reflecting pool. SAD!
Stunningly beautiful
You can’t take a 747 with you to prison.
everyone obviously knows this is brazenly corrupt but some will still support it because, after the Epstein files, conservatives see a lot of themselves in trump and what he did to those kids, and want it to be normalized. they see the corruption as a small price to pay for their fantasy.
I don't see any conservatives talking about how society should destigmatize the paraphilic desires of "minor-attracted persons". That bizarrely horrifying notion originated in capital-P Progressive circles. You clearly have no idea what you're talking about.
before trump it was hastert. you guys keep insisting on rewarding diddlers with the highest offices because you admire and emulate their values. i hope those around you know to keep you away from the kids.
Yeah, I stand with all the points in the article... But don't you wish you had one? Trump is a PIMP! Kudos for getting your own luxury jumbo jet gifted to you at his age.
All these anti American comments on here. It’s a nice plane Get over it Go enjoy all the A listers who went to Obama’s library because that’s what the Democrat party is. A glitzy party who doesn’t care about their people and never have.
How much is gas at the pump?
Democrats don't care about their people and never have? By the way I am not even a Democrat.
You are showing your jealousy. For example why did Trump vehemently stop helping people pay for their heath care?
Mike, would you have been OK if the Democrats accepted this plane from Qatar?
Mike says whatever the Russian influencer bots and the Murdoch off line machinery tell him on tiktok, Fox et al what to say
The updated service manual alone for the flying palace cost the Air Force 84 million . If he wants to to take that with him, he should pay for it. I'm sick of the gaslighting that it was free.
Of course the idiot wants to take it with him. I predict that won't happen.
The US are showing all signs of a falling empire.
It was fun while it lasted.
So, THAT’s what Xi said…
(As we enter our own ‘century of humiliation’…)
#predictthegrift
This will never operate as Air Force 1.
An aircraft originally operated by a foreign government will never pass the security requirements to be AF1 and by the time these requirements are met Trump will be out of office.
I predict you are wrong. I'll bet $50 it will. You in? (I despise t-rump, so it ain't that).
I raise you $ 10. it won't .
Gross.
Streamline .
Ironic that if the initial order for the two VC-25Bs were not canceled, it would've been delivered by now.
And would have cost the taxpayer $6.2 billion dollars vs $3.9 billion plus the $400 million prep cost of the bridge aircraft. Boeing is responsible for the cost over runs (unless due to a change order) under the new contract. Under the original contract the taxpayer covered the over run.
The current two aircraft are 35+ years old. Know any airline that flies internationally with planes that old? I'm surprised that the ride-along-for-free press corps isn't elated by this.
Uh, Tim, want to jump in here?
Fly Lufthansa within Europe, and chances are you end up on a 32 year-old A321.
I cannot accept a gift from any company or anyone >$50.00 yet this functionally illiterate, grifting, pedophile continues to rape the country and enrich himself, family and cronies... OY!
Funny when a “points and miles” blog has a more unhinged headline about this unveiling than the mainstream media that is also mostly anti-Trump. Perhaps this too is a symptom of the end times of points and miles.
What exactly about this headline hurts your feelings, Sel?
My feelings aren’t hurt. It’s sad enough that news and Hollywood and sports and everything has become highly partisan and divisive - why points and miles blogs too? Can’t we just bond over devaluations and being lucky enough to score F on JL or something?
The president is raving about how this is a luxurious White House in the sky. The headline for the blog post reflects what the president is focused on. If you think that's divisive, you're right! But the divisiveness doesn't arise from this (fairly anodyne) headline. It's the underlying presidential conduct that's divisive. If that makes you feel uncomfortable, well...that's pretty revealing.
Click-bait!
Maybe go somewhere else.
That’s not very inclusive.
The right-wing snowflakes can't handle the truth. (But they seem to have become very comfortable with the hypocrisy!)
Sel hates being reminded of his own idiotic choices.
Can’t we all just STOP living in reality? It’s exhausting for Trumpers to witness the consequences of their own actions.
Yawn. Uninspired and unoriginal responses. Don’t address my original statement about Lucky being further left than the leftist media. Still waiting on an article about Sam Brinton.
@Sel D.
If the headlines upset you, blame the President. He's the one who keeps bragging about his $400 million flying gilded palace from Qatar. He's not being subtle about it, he's been bragging since it was "gifted" to him.
Disappointing that no Trump Deity Syndrome people have stepped up to post in defense of the Orange one.
I believe there are two issues here:
1. Trump is a crook and a grifter.
2. The process by which the government bids and procures equipment such as airplanes is bloated, inefficient, and corrupt.
Our government cannot perform basic functions.
Nice paint .
The flying flag image on the vertical stabilizer makes it look like a kid’s toy. The whole thing just lacks class. Keep the OG scheme. It’s iconic. Everyone knows that it’s AF1 just by looking at the livery. Not this one.
Silence, plebian! Our Genius Commander-in-Chief stayed up ALL NIGHT one Tuesday to design this truly wonderful new livery using ChatGPT. The person who designed the old one was born in FRANCE! Need I say more?
The war with Iran hasn’t ended. Straits of Hormuz closed. He’s turned the White House into a bordello and construction site. The reflecting pool he believes he beautified is an algae filled disaster. He’s falling asleep and breaking wind all the time.
Wait, the White House is a bordello? Maybe I should stop saying no to the invites.
"Wait, the White House is a bordello? Maybe I should stop saying no to the invites."
Problem is, it's a Epstein Island-style bordello.
"He’s falling asleep and breaking wind all the time."
Don't forget audibly (yes, audibly) shitting in his always-already-full diaper.
If Qatar was hoping for long term economic benefits from this gift, that ship has sailed. ( and if that ship has oil - not sailing much at all recently ).
Qatar is not a "ship" .
For “Ship” read rhetorical.
Qatar is not a "rhetorical" .
Please read my post again Alert, then tell me how you get from “Ship” to “Qatar”?
How do you get from "Schiphol" to Amsterdam ? By bus or taxi . Different getting from "ship" to Qatar , usually by sea-dhow and then by camel .
"Qatar is not a "ship" ."
It absolutely IS a ship, moron. As are Dubai and Egypt.
Qatar is not a "ship moron" .
On second thought , perhaps Qatar is a "ship-moron" ? ( Would that be a ship named after a moronic Qatar ? Or a moron-ship located at Qatar ? )
Setting aside the corruption and politics for a second. I have read that the dark blue paint on the bottom creates heat issues with sensors and electronics. Also, how can this plane be modified to anywhere near the necessary security and survivability standards so quickly while the dedicated aircraft are years behind and way over budget?
I'm curious about the retrofit timeline as well. If we can get this plane up to spec this quickly why are the other two so far behind. The only thing I can think is that this really is not up to proper spec and it's the usual bs.
Interesting on the paint causing problems if true. Hopefully they didn't use the same guys who did the reflecting pool for that work...
Of course it is not up to spec. I fear gor the hundreds of people not named DJT who gly in it. But, the extra risk is probably small.
> Hopefully they didn't use the same guys who did the reflecting pool for that work...
...or one could hope that's the exact same guys doing the work.
Has anyone found a high quality assessment of likely difference in capabilities of the 'future' (long term modifications 747-8s) that are severely delayed and this one that will be entering service quickly? Can this one do mid-air refueling?
No , it does not need mid-air refueling . It can always divert if it is low on fuel . Greenland comes to mind .
"Greenland comes to mind ."
That's a great point! Other diversion options are Poland, Latvia, Australia, Chile, Namibia, and Mexico.
This one cannot do mid-air refueling - retrofitting this in would require a very significant amount of work. I find it interesting the new VC-25Bs, the replacement AF!s, are also not being spec'd with mid-air refueling. They dropped it due to cost constraints as again it's a lot of work to add this to planes already built.
I see.
It would be very helpful to know the marginal capabilities over the delayed 747-8s versus this one.
I do suspect it's a defense-swamp-contracting boondoggle.
Will be sad to see this one taken to a library instead of continue serving especially if the other ones aren't ready yet.
No, and the new ones won't be able to do that.