Trump Plans Upgrades for Qatar's Donated Air Force One

WHO:

CNN - President Trump confirmed the upgrades for the Qatar-donated jet serving as Air Force One.

The New York Times - The jet is a Boeing 747-800 donated by Qatar.

WHAT:

The New York Times - Trump stated that the Boeing 747-800 jet will soon be “maxed out,” suggesting it could get additional defensive capabilities to match the standards of older jets used for presidential travel.

CNN - Trump mentioned that the upgrades to the jet will take approximately one month to complete, and he plans to continue using the jet for domestic trips before the upgrades.

Fast Company - The retrofitting of the jet included new engines, airstairs, an additional exterior door, and a new communications system, but it reportedly still lacks advanced security measures.

NBC News - Trump stated that the new Air Force One will receive additional upgrades and enhancements in the fall, which will take approximately one month to complete.

The Daily Beast - Press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that during the month of upgrades, Trump will fly on the old Air Force One.

CNN - Trump stated that the upgrades to the jet will take approximately one month to complete.

CNN - Trump indicated that the new jet is expected to undergo additional work later this fall.

CNN - Trump mentioned that he is considering a visit to Ireland in September, which could involve using the new jet.

CNN - Trump suggested he could take the new jet to China later this year, depending on the completion of upgrades.

NY Post - President Trump confirmed that the Qatar-donated jet serving as Air Force One will be taken out of service to boost its anti-missile defenses.

CNN - Trump stated, “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.”

The New York Times - Trump mentioned he plans to take the Boeing 747-800 jet with him for his presidential library when he leaves office.

CNN - Trump stated that the Qatari-donated jet will be sent for upgrades to enhance its anti-missile defenses.

CNN - Trump mentioned that the plane will be "maxed out" for upgrades.

The New York Times - Trump indicated that the jet would soon be “maxed out” to match the standards of older jets used for presidential travel.

CNN - The new jet was valued at $400 million.

WHERE:

CNN - Trump returned to Joint Base Andrews after his trip.

CNN - The plane was sent ahead to Mildenhall air base in England.

WHEN:

CNN - Trump stated that the upgrades would take place in about a month.

WHY:

CNN - Security assessments frequently change, leading to discussions about avoiding the new jet in high-threat areas, specifically Israel, amid the ongoing war with Iran.

CNN - Security concerns arose after Trump was forced to use an earlier-model plane to depart the NATO leaders summit in Turkey.

CNN - Security concerns arose regarding the new jet's capabilities after Trump used an older model to depart the NATO leaders summit in Turkey.

CNN - Security personnel preferred the older plane due to its safety features designed specifically for the commander-in-chief.

HOW:

The Daily Beast - The White House took the extraordinary step of subpoenaing four New York Times reporters after the paper reported on security concerns involving the new Air Force One jet.

CNN - The White House launched an internal investigation to identify the source of leaks regarding the security deficiencies of the new jet, including subpoenaing four New York Times reporters.

CNN - The military took possession of the jet from Qatar last year, and the retrofitting process took a little over a year to complete.

CNN - Boeing has spent nearly a decade designing and upgrading two new planes, which are slated for delivery in 2028.

CNN - A major White House investigation was launched to identify leaks regarding the security deficiencies of the new jet, with some officials being asked to turn over their phones to investigators on White House grounds.

CNN - A major White House investigation was launched to identify leaks regarding the security deficiencies of the new jet, with officials being asked to turn over their phones to investigators.

(UPDATED July 21, 2026 10:43 UTC)

Trump has announced that the Boeing 747-800 jet will soon be “maxed out,” indicating plans for upgrades to enhance its defensive capabilities to meet the standards of older presidential jets. He mentioned that these upgrades will take about one month to complete, and he intends to continue using the jet for domestic trips in the meantime. In a related development, the White House has subpoenaed four New York Times reporters following a report on security concerns regarding the new Air Force One jet, amid ongoing discussions about its use in high-threat areas like Israel.

(UPDATED July 21, 2026 07:47 UTC)

Trump announced that the new Air Force One will undergo additional upgrades and enhancements this fall, a process expected to take about one month to complete. During this time, press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump will continue to fly on the old Air Force One, as security assessments have prompted discussions about avoiding the new jet in high-threat areas like Israel amid the ongoing war with Iran. In response to concerns about security deficiencies related to the new aircraft, the White House has launched an internal investigation, which includes subpoenaing four New York Times reporters to identify the source of the leaks.

(UPDATED July 20, 2026 23:16 UTC)

Trump announced that upgrades to his new jet are expected to take about one month to complete, with additional work planned for later this fall. He is also considering a visit to Ireland in September, which may involve using the upgraded jet, and he suggested that a trip to China could be on the table later this year, depending on the timing of the upgrades. The military took possession of the jet from Qatar last year, and it took over a year to retrofit, while Boeing has been working on designing and upgrading two new planes that are set for delivery in 2028.

(UPDATED July 20, 2026 19:25 UTC)

President Trump has confirmed that the Qatar-donated jet currently serving as Air Force One will be taken out of service to enhance its anti-missile defenses, stating that it will be sent for upgrades in about a month. This decision follows security concerns that arose when Trump had to use an earlier-model plane to leave the NATO leaders summit in Turkey, prompting a major investigation into leaks about the jet's security deficiencies. Additionally, Trump mentioned plans to take the Boeing 747-800 jet with him for his presidential library once he leaves office.

(UPDATED July 20, 2026 12:35 UTC)

President Trump has confirmed that the Qatar-donated Boeing 747-800 jet, valued at $400 million, will undergo significant upgrades to enhance its anti-missile defenses and meet the standards of older jets used for presidential travel. The upgrades are expected to take place in about a month, following security concerns that arose after Trump used an older model during his departure from the NATO leaders summit in Turkey. In response to these concerns, a major White House investigation has been launched to identify leaks about the new jet's security deficiencies, with officials being asked to turn over their phones to investigators.