Trump to continue traveling in Qatari-gifted Air Force One despite security concerns - report

With delays affecting Boeing’s replacement aircraft, Trump is expected to keep using the Qatari-gifted plane for upcoming trips, including visits to Texas, Alaska, and Ireland. Follow us on GoogleUS President Donald Trump gestures as he tours the VC-25B aircraft gifted by Qatar that will be used as Air Force One, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, June 19, 2026. (photo credit: REUTERS/ELIZABETH FRANTZ)SEPTEMBER 5, 2026 09:24Updated: SEPTEMBER 5, 2026 09:49US President Donald Trump plans to continue flying in his new Qatari-gifted Boeing 747, which is set to serve as the president's new Air Force One, for upcoming domestic and international travel despite concerns regarding the security of the jet, The Washington Post reported Friday.The move comes after a July security incident in Turkey, where Trump was attending a NATO summit in Ankara and an Iranian assassination threat against the president prompted a covert operation to transfer him from his previous, aging Air Force One aircraft to an alternative military aircraft.The refurbished Qatari-gifted Boeing aircraft reportedly still requires additional upgrades before entering service.Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump said the new aircraft still needs to be "maxed out," which he described as meaning "you can go into any territory." The upgrades are expected to take 60 days to complete and are scheduled to begin in October.A senior administration official previously said the White House would not comment on the specifics of the Air Force One upgrades.New VC-25B Bridge Air Force One transporting US President lands at Etimesgut Air Base near Ankara, on July 7, 2026, ahead of the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit. (credit: Abdullah Güçlü / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)"We maintain a consistent posture that ensures a safe, secure, and reliable capability for the President of the United States and routinely evolve the capability as required to maintain that posture," the official said.Trump to fly to Texas, Alaska, Ireland in Qatari-gifted planeWith delays affecting the older Air Force One aircraft, Trump is expected to continue using the Qatari-gifted plane for upcoming trips, including a visit to Texas next week to headline a Republican Party mini-convention in Dallas. He is also scheduled to travel to Alaska for a campaign stop in a closely contested race and to Ireland for the Irish Open at his golf course in Doonbeg.The Qatari aircraft has already undergone a $400 million retrofit but will require additional work in the coming months.The use of the Qatari aircraft has drawn controversy over concerns surrounding the acceptance of such a significant gift from a foreign government, as well as questions over delays in replacing the current Air Force One fleet. Boeing was awarded a contract in 2017 to deliver two new 747 aircraft, but the planes have yet to enter service, and it remains unclear whether they will be delivered before the end of Trump’s term in 2029.Cost for Air Force One's replacements now exceeds $5.6 billionAccording to The Washington Post, the Government Accountability Office has estimated that the cost of upgrading Boeing’s aircraft has risen to more than $5.6 billion. Lawmakers have questioned why the price has increased so significantly, particularly compared with the cost of retrofitting the Qatari aircraft.The issue has also raised additional security concerns. Despite those concerns, the administration has insisted that the Qatari aircraft meets the necessary security standards.Following the July operation, White House communications director Steven Cheung told The Washington Post that "The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff."Follow us on Google