Trump receives Qatar-gifted Boeing 747 as interim Air Force One
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A Qatar-donated Boeing 747, converted at a cost of about $1 billion, has been unveiled as a temporary replacement for the aging Air Force One fleet, while the next-generation jets face delays.
President Donald Trump unveiled a newly converted Boeing 747 at Joint Base Andrews on Friday, designating it VC-25B Bridge. The aircraft, painted in a red, white, dark blue and gold scheme, was donated by the Gulf emirate of Qatar. The Pentagon confirmed that the acceptance complied with federal regulations, and the conversion is estimated to cost roughly $1 billion.
The interim jet is intended to serve until two purpose-built presidential aircraft, originally scheduled for delivery in 2027 and 2028, become operational. Those new planes have seen their projected price rise from $3.7 billion to $5 billion.
Critics have raised concerns that the gift, valued at about $400 million, exceeds the $50 limit on unsolicited gifts from a single source in a calendar year and could divert funds from other defense programs such as the Sentinel ICBM modernization effort.
"The secretary of defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations," Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink emphasized that safety and security remain the top priority, noting that the aircraft met presidential standards despite some planned modifications being deferred to accelerate delivery.
The VC-25B arrives ahead of a planned July 4 formation flight over Washington, D.C., where Trump said it would lead the "biggest flyover in American history." A brief interior tour showed décor that includes a framed print of a duck in the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool.
The older Air Force One tail number 29000, a Boeing 747-200 that recently returned from Europe, will be retired to a museum, while its sister aircraft, tail number 28000, will continue operating alongside the new interim jet until the next-generation aircraft are ready.
