US Air Force One retires after 30 years, Qatar‑gifted Boeing 747 to become new presidential aircraft

One of the two United States presidential aircraft, designated Air Force One, is being retired after more than three decades of service. The aircraft, which has carried every U.S. president since its entry into service in 1990, will be withdrawn while the status of the second plane remains unclear.

U.S. officials say the replacement will be a Boeing 747 that was presented to President Donald Trump by the government of Qatar. The gifted aircraft has passed all required tests, will be repainted in United States livery, and is expected to make its first presidential flight next month, including a planned trip to Mount Rushmore for the nation’s 250th‑anniversary celebrations. Statements from Trump’s communications director Steven Cheung and senior protocol officer Monica Crowley praised the plane’s legacy and its upcoming role.

The decision has provoked controversy. Critics raise ethical and legal questions about the president accepting a multimillion‑dollar gift, and some express concerns about the plane’s safety and security features compared with the purpose‑built Air Force One fleet.