Trump Accelerates Qatar-Donated 747-8 Integration Into Air Force One Fleet, Raising Cost and Security Concerns
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A New York Times report says President Trump’s push to retrofit a Qatar-donated 747-8 for Air Force One service compressed a multi-year program into eight months, adding hundreds of millions in expenses and prompting questions about missing safety features.
President Donald Trump expedited the inclusion of a Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8 in the Air Force One fleet, seeking to have the aircraft ready for the United States’ 250th anniversary. The accelerated schedule reduced a planned multi-year upgrade to roughly eight months, according to a New York Times report. The hastened timeline generated additional costs estimated in the hundreds of millions, covering pilot training and the procurement of extra 747-8 airframes, some of which were reportedly financed through a classified nuclear modernization budget that was not disclosed to Congress.
The Times cited experts and official records indicating that the interim “bridge” aircraft lacks several standard Air Force One features, including a lower-level emergency exit with dedicated stairs, a second auxiliary power unit, and visible anti-missile systems. The jet, intended for display at Trump’s presidential library, is scheduled for further modifications later this year.
The White House maintains that the aircraft meets safety requirements. However, scrutiny intensified after the Secret Service advised Trump to travel on the older Air Force One for a trip to Turkey amid a reported threat from Iranian-aligned forces, a detail noted by the Guardian. Reporters covering the story initially received subpoenas, which were later withdrawn by the Justice Department.