Donald Trump flies Qatar‑gifted Air Force One for first time

President Donald Trump made his inaugural flight on a Boeing 747‑8 that was donated by Qatar, a jet valued at roughly $400 million and retrofitted with extensive security and communications upgrades at taxpayer expense. Trump praised the aircraft, saying, “I’m genuinely excited about the maiden voyage. No one’s ever seen anything like it,” and added, “Frankly, we couldn’t build a plane like this because we wouldn’t be willing to spend that kind of money.” The first official trip took him from Joint Base Andrews to North Dakota for a ceremony marking the United States’ 250th independence anniversary and a visit to the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.

Critics, including Democrats and legal scholars, warned that accepting such a costly foreign gift may violate the U.S. Constitution’s emoluments clause and raise ethical and security concerns. They have described the jet as a “foreign‑influence bribe.” The aircraft is intended as a temporary bridge until Boeing delivers two new VC‑25B Air Force One jets, now expected around 2028.

The episode has sparked a debate over foreign influence, fiscal responsibility, and the modernization of the presidential fleet.