Trump to Send Gifted Qatari Jet for One Month of Security Upgrades

Security Upgrades and the ‘Maxed Out’ Timeline

President Trump confirmed the decision while speaking in front of the aircraft at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The president noted that while the jet possesses significant capabilities, it will undergo a roughly one-month modification process to address security requirements. It has a lot of capability, but as I understand it, in about a month or so, they’re going to send it to have it be maxed out, Trump said.

The White House confirmed on Monday that Trump will suspend use of the gifted jet during this period, opting to return to an older aircraft instead. These upgrades follow public questions regarding the security technology installed on the plane. While the exact nature of the modifications remains unspecified, the aircraft—valued at $400 million—has been the subject of ethical, legal, and national security concerns since its donation by the Qatari government and its subsequent acceptance by the Pentagon last summer. The Air Force in May stated that the aircraft, which now features a dark blue, red and gold paint scheme, had undergone modification and flight testing before Trump began flying on the new jet this month.

For more on this story, see Trump Switched to Older Plane Amid Iran Conflict Security Concerns.

Questions of Defensive Capability and FBI Scrutiny

The security concerns surrounding the jet gained public attention following reports that it lacked some of the defensive countermeasures found on previous presidential aircraft, such as advanced antimissile capabilities. The FBI reportedly launched an investigation into the New York Times following their reporting on these security gaps, issuing subpoenas to several reporters in an attempt to identify sources who provided information.

A senior FBI official contacted the journalists prior to publication, claiming the report posed a national security issue and requesting the names of their sources—a request the publication refused. Despite these concerns, the Air Force previously told The Washington Post that it coordinated closely with appropriate government entities to ensure all functional mission requirements were strictly met for transporting the President.

The Qatari-Gifted Aircraft and Long-Term Fleet Plans

The current Boeing 747-800 serves as a bridge between the older, roughly 35-year-old Air Force One planes and two new Boeing 747s that the company is retrofitting for $3.9 billion. These future aircraft are designed to include antimissile defense systems, electronic anti-hacking protection, and advanced communications systems for use with the Pentagon. Nearly a decade of delays have meant that the new planes may not be ready by the time Trump’s second term ends. Costs for this project have increased to an estimated $5.6 billion, an overrun for which Boeing is on the hook, according to the Government Accountability Office.

The interior of the gifted jet has largely been kept the same as the design meant for the Qatari royal family, with cream and tan leather seating on the decks. During a recent NATO summit in Turkey, the president arrived on the gifted jet but notably chose a different aircraft for his return flight. While Trump denied that security concerns drove the switch, he acknowledged the potential for threats, noting that reporters flying with him were asked to close their window blinds during departure from Ankara. They asked you to close your windows; they probably feel that way [about possible threats]. They didn’t ask me to close mine, but if they did, I would’ve done it, Trump said.

This follows our earlier report, Trump switched older Air Force One amid Iran assassination fears.

The Qatari plane is expected to be gifted to Trump’s presidential library at the end of his term.

Sources: Washingtonpost, Spokesman.