Trump says newly gifted Air Force One will undergo upgrades

President Donald Trump said the newly renovated Boeing 747, gifted by Qatar and recently used for a flight from Washington to North Dakota, will be sent for further upgrades to enhance its capabilities. He indicated the work would take about a month, stating, "As I understand it, in about a month or so, they’re gonna send it to have it be maxed out … It’ll take about a month."

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed in an emailed statement that the aircraft is "perfectly safe for the President’s travels, but will receive additional upgrades and enhancements in the fall which will take approximately one month to complete." She added that the president will use the older Air Force One during that period.

The new plane, a Boeing 747-B accepted in May 2025, replaced a 1990-era Boeing 747-200 that had served six presidents. It is longer, carries more weight and has slightly improved range and speed, though passenger capacity remains similar. The administration expects the aircraft to remain in service until at least 2028.

Earlier, concerns about the plane’s security prompted the Secret Service to advise using the older aircraft for a flight from Turkey to Britain amid heightened tensions with Iran. Trump dismissed the security rationale, noting his personal risk profile.

White House communications director Steven Cheung described the new jet as "a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols" and emphasized the administration’s use of all tools to address threats.