Trump Reveals Qatar's $400M Gift: New Air Force One Unveiled

WHO:

CNN - President Donald Trump unveiled the new Air Force One.

CNN - Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink stated the importance of safety and security for the commander in chief.

WHAT:

Newsweek - The new Air Force One jet is set for commissioning flights before entering presidential service.

CNN - The Air Force stated that the commissioning flights will serve as a “final exam” for the aircraft modification.

CNN - The new Air Force One has been painted red, white, and blue and features the words “United States of America.”

CNN - The new aircraft has a navy blue and white fuselage with red stripes, replacing the light blue color scheme used since 1990.

CNN - The Air Force stated that the commissioning flights will serve as a “final exam” for the aircraft modification.

Drudge Report - A new Air Force One plane, a $400 million jet gifted by Qatar, was unveiled.

Newsweek - The new Air Force One jet is set for commissioning flights before entering presidential service.

CNN - The new aircraft is intended to bridge the gap between two aging modified Boeing 747-200s and two new planes being modified by Boeing.

CBS News Politics - The Boeing 747-8 was unveiled as the new Air Force One, providing the first look at the luxury plane.

WHERE:

CNN - The unveiling took place at Joint Base Andrews.

WHEN:

CNN - The new Air Force One is expected to begin “commissioning flights” soon, with the new Boeing planes not likely to be completed until 2029.

WHY:

CNN - Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink emphasized that the safety and security of the commander in chief is the highest priority and that the Air Force can accelerate delivery without sacrificing quality, security, or reliability.

CNN - Trump expressed frustration at delays in producing the new Air Force One planes.

HOW:

CNN - The Pentagon accepted the Qatari jet last year and has been preparing it for service over the last several months.

CNN - The timeline for preparing the Qatari jet has been quicker than for the other planes because the interior was not modified.

(UPDATED June 20, 2026 01:39 UTC)

The new Air Force One jet is preparing for commissioning flights before it officially enters presidential service. According to the Air Force, these flights will act as a “final exam” for the aircraft modifications. The new Boeing planes are expected to begin these commissioning flights soon, but they won't be fully completed until 2029.

(UPDATED June 19, 2026 23:17 UTC)

The new Air Force One has been unveiled with a striking red, white, and blue design, prominently displaying the words "United States of America." This aircraft features a navy blue and white fuselage adorned with red stripes, marking a departure from the light blue color scheme that has been in use since 1990. According to Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink, the upcoming commissioning flights will serve as a "final exam" for the aircraft modification, ensuring that safety and security remain the top priority for the commander in chief.

(UPDATED June 19, 2026 21:19 UTC)

President Trump unveiled the new Air Force One, a Boeing 747-8 jet gifted by Qatar, during a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink emphasized the importance of safety and security for the commander in chief, while Trump expressed frustration over delays in the production of the new planes, which are not expected to be completed until 2029. The new Air Force One is set to begin commissioning flights soon, as the Pentagon has been preparing the Qatari jet for service over the last several months.