President Donald Trump unveiled the new temporary Air Force One, designated VC-25B Bridge, at a hangar at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Friday. The jet, a converted Qatari Boeing 747 valued at $400 million, has sparked political controversy as it far exceeds the $50 limit on unsolicited gifts from a single source in a calendar year.
Gift from Qatar Raises Eyebrows
The aircraft was gifted to Trump by the Gulf emirate of Qatar, drawing criticism from politicians. Trump dismissed the backlash, stating it would be “stupid” to refuse the offer. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed that “the secretary of defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations.” The cost of converting the Qatari 747 is estimated at $1 billion, and it will serve as a “bridge” aircraft until two long-delayed presidential Boeings are delivered in 2027 and 2028. The cost of those purpose-built jets has ballooned from $3.7 billion to $5 billion.
Criticism Over Spending and Delays
Critics argue that the conversion costs could divert funds from the Sentinel ICBM modernization program, which is already years behind schedule. Trump thanked the emir of Qatar at the unveiling, calling him “a fantastic guy.” He described the jet as “the world’s most luxurious plane,” built at a level “that will probably never be seen again.” Trump argued the new jet was necessary to keep pace with more modern aircraft used by foreign leaders, saying, “These countries have a lot of respect for us, and yet they have a plane that’s much newer and much better. It’s a little ridiculous.”
Retirement of Older Presidential Fleet
The two aging Boeing 747s in the presidential fleet entered service in 1990 during the George H.W. Bush presidency. Earlier this year, one of them was forced to turn back to Washington due to a technical fault on a trip to Davos, Switzerland. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the crew identified a “minor electrical issue.” The Air Force fast-tracked retrofitting of the Qatari jet but skipped some planned modifications for the next-generation presidential jet to deliver an interim version sooner. Officials said the jet meets presidential standards. “The safety and security of the commander in chief is our highest priority,” said Troy Meink, secretary of the Air Force, in a statement on Friday.
Interior and Future Plans
The new jet features a color scheme reminiscent of Trump’s own aircraft and is scheduled to lead a formation flight over Washington D.C. on July 4 to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary. Trump told the crowd that the new aircraft will lead the “biggest flyover in American history.” A tour of the interior revealed a framed print of a duck swimming in the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. The delivery of the Qatari jet coincides with the retirement of Air Force One tail number 29000, a Boeing 747-200 that recently transported the president back from Europe and is destined for a museum. Its companion aircraft, tail number 28000, will continue flying with the new VC-25B until the new jets are delivered. Concerns that Trump might use the Qatari jet for personal use after leaving office in 2028 appear unlikely, given that operating a 747 costs $180,000 to $200,000 per flight hour, compared to $12,000 to $16,500 per hour for Trump’s own Boeing 757.
