Trump flies first trip on Qatar-gifted Air Force One amid corruption claims
Donald Trump has debuted a retrofitted Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar as a temporary presidential aircraft. The move has ignited bipartisan criticism over foreign influence and taxpayer costs.
Trump flies first trip on Qatar-gifted Air Force One amid corruption claims
President Donald Trump traveled to North Dakota on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, for the first official mission aboard a retrofitted Boeing 747-8 gifted by the government of Qatar. The aircraft, which joined the Air Force One fleet last month, transported the president from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to Medora for the dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
The president was accompanied on the maiden flight by his sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., Donald Trump Jr.’s wife Bettina Trump, and various White House officials. Before departure, Trump described the jet as maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built
and told reporters that nobody’s ever seen anything like it
.
A "Bridge" to Future Aircraft
Formally designated the VC-25B Bridge, the luxury aircraft is intended as a temporary solution. It replaces the military-grade 747-2 that served six presidents since 1990. The "bridge" aircraft will remain in service until Boeing delivers two purpose-built presidential jets, currently expected in 2027 and 2028. The projected cost for those two delayed aircraft has risen from $3.7bn to $5bn.
The Qatari jet is 18 feet, 4 inches longer than the outgoing plane and is capable of flying faster and farther, though both maintain similar passenger capacities and height. While the Air Force stated that upgrades focused on operational readiness and left the interior layout minimally changed
, photographs shared by White House Communications Director Steven Cheung and other officials show leather seating, wood paneling and large conference tables. A pool reporter on the flight noted a press cabin featuring television screens and lie-flat seats with massage functions.
Trump also altered the aircraft's appearance, replacing the powder blue and white scheme used since the Kennedy administration with a red, white, navy blue and gold design. Trump said he chose the colors of the American flag.
Financial and Ethical Disputes
The aircraft, valued at roughly $400 million, was accepted by Trump in May 2025. The gift has sparked bipartisan criticism and accusations of blatant corruption
from Democrats. Legal experts and ethics watchdogs have raised concerns regarding foreign influence, national security and potential violations of the Constitution's Foreign Emoluments Clause, citing the Trump family's business ties in Qatar.
Donald Sherman, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, stated the arrangement shows the president is willing to actively seek gifts from foreign governments where the American people have significant national security interests
. Senator Patty Murray described the gift as a clearer violation of our Constitution's Emoluments Clause
that puts our country's national security at risk
.
The White House has rejected these claims. Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly called the accusations a tired narrative
and insisted there are no conflicts of interest
. Trump has maintained that the aircraft was donated to the Air Force and Defense Department rather than to him personally, suggesting it could eventually be transferred to his presidential library.
The Cost of Conversion
While the aircraft was a gift, its conversion for presidential use required significant taxpayer funding. Estimates for these security and technical upgrades vary widely:
| Source/Official | Estimated Retrofit Cost |
|---|---|
| Air Force Secretary Troy Meink (previous testimony) | Under $400 million |
| Various Outlets / NBC News Experts | Over $1 billion |
Trump told reporters that the cost to taxpayers was very little
relative to the expense of acquiring a similar aircraft. However, reports from The New York Times indicated that the Air Force privately acknowledged using funds from Sentinel, an intercontinental ballistic missile modernization program, to pay for the overhaul. That program is already several years behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget.
Air Force officials have since declined to provide an updated cost for the retrofit, citing classification.
Upcoming Schedule
Following his tour of the 96,000-square-foot Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, Trump is scheduled to meet Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. On Friday, July 3, he will travel to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. He will then return to Washington for the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations. Trump stated that the Qatari-gifted jet is expected to lead a military aircraft flyover of the Capitol on July 4.
An anonymous Air Force spokesperson told the Associated Press that the two original VC-25A aircraft will remain in service, with the Presidential Airlift Group selecting between those and the Qatari jet based on mission requirements.
