President Donald Trump took his first flight aboard the new Air Force One on Wednesday, praising the luxury aircraft donated by the government of Qatar and saying the United States “couldn’t build a plane like this.”
Before departing for an America 250 celebration in North Dakota, Trump expressed his excitement about the aircraft, which has been at the center of controversy since it was announced earlier this year.
“I’m excited about the first flight,” Trump told reporters.
The Boeing jet, estimated to be worth around $400 million, was gifted by Qatar to the Pentagon and has been outfitted for presidential use with enhanced security features and other specialized modifications.
“They just completed it. They made it appropriate for a president, that means the security and all of the different bells and whistles they put on,” Trump said.
“Very complex now, but it’s really quite something.”
Trump also praised the quality of the aircraft and its construction, crediting Qatar for investing heavily in the project.
“Frankly, we couldn’t build a plane like this because we wouldn’t be willing to spend the kind of money necessary. They spent top dollars,” he said.
The aircraft features a custom white, red and navy-blue exterior similar to Trump’s personal jet and includes luxury amenities such as reclining leather seats, gold-colored fixtures, and customized interiors bearing the presidential seal.
The gift has sparked legal, ethical and national security questions from critics, particularly over its foreign origin and the long-term plans for the aircraft.
When the arrangement first became public, reports indicated the plane could eventually be transferred to Trump’s presidential library after he leaves office. However, the aircraft was formally gifted to the Pentagon, and the White House has not publicly clarified its final disposition.
For now, Trump is expected to use the aircraft while Boeing continues work on two next-generation presidential planes, known as VC-25Bs, which are expected to enter service in roughly two years.
The new jet replaces the aging Boeing 747-200 aircraft that had served as Air Force One since 1990, with the White House recently marking the retirement of the longtime presidential aircraft on social media.
