WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump made the first official trip aboard a newly commissioned Air Force One on Wednesday, traveling to North Dakota in a converted Boeing 747-8 that the U.S. government accepted from Qatar as an interim presidential aircraft while long-delayed replacement jets remain under development.
The flight marked the aircraft's operational debut after weeks of modifications, testing and certification by the U.S. Air Force. The aircraft, previously owned by the Qatari government, has been retrofitted with security, communications and defensive systems required for presidential transport, according to U.S. officials. It is expected to serve temporarily until Boeing delivers the next-generation presidential aircraft, now projected for 2028 after years of delays.
Speaking before boarding at Joint Base Andrews, Trump praised the aircraft, calling it "the best plane ever built," and said he looked forward to its inaugural mission. During the trip, he attended events in North Dakota linked to the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and celebrations associated with the United States' 250th anniversary.
The aircraft differs visibly from previous Air Force One jets, replacing the long-standing light blue livery introduced during the Kennedy administration with a darker red, white and blue design favored by Trump. Officials have said the modifications prioritized mission capability and security while also adapting the interior for presidential operations.
The acceptance of the aircraft has generated political and legal debate in Washington. Critics, including some lawmakers from both parties, have questioned the ethics and security implications of accepting such a valuable asset from a foreign government and have raised concerns about the overall cost of converting the aircraft for presidential use. Administration officials have defended the arrangement, saying it complies with applicable legal requirements and provides a practical solution while the permanent replacement program remains behind schedule.
The Air Force has described the aircraft as a bridge capability intended to maintain presidential airlift as the aging VC-25A fleet approaches the end of its service life. Boeing's purpose-built VC-25B aircraft, originally scheduled for delivery years earlier, have faced repeated production and certification delays.
Following the North Dakota visit, the new aircraft is expected to continue supporting presidential travel while the Air Force completes the transition to the permanently designated replacement fleet later this decade.
