Trump says Qatar-gifted Air Force One will undergo upgrades

President Donald Trump said the Boeing 747-8 jet that Qatar donated as a new Air Force One will be sent away for further upgrades, a process he estimated would take about a month. Trump made the comment after returning from a trip to the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey, when reporters asked whether the aircraft lacked missile-defense systems.

"It has a lot of capability," Trump said, adding that the plane would be "maxed out" soon. He did not specify what modifications would be made.

The jet, delivered to Joint Base Andrews in June, features a red, white and dark-blue livery and has been described by Trump as a "flying White House at a level of luxury no one has ever seen before." He began using the aircraft this month and flew it to a museum event in North Dakota on July 1.

Earlier in the month, Trump opted to return from a NATO summit in Turkey on a different presidential aircraft, prompting speculation about the readiness of the Qatari-donated plane. The Secret Service reportedly advised him to use the older aircraft due to security concerns related to the Middle East region and renewed tensions with Iran.

Four New York Times reporters were subpoenaed by the Justice Department after publishing stories about security issues involving the new Air Force One.