AI Generated Image
Trump takes maiden flight in Qatar-gifted Air Force One. See photos
USA Today • • nation
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump took the first official flight on the new Qatar-gifted Air Force One on June 1, traveling from Washington to North Dakota to honor Theodore Roosevelt.
- The plane, a Boeing 747-B donated by Qatar in an unprecedented $400 million gift, faced bipartisan ethics and security concerns, including accusations of constitutional violations and the need for extensive modifications to meet standards.
- Trump was accompanied on the maiden flight by his sons Eric and Donald Jr., Donald Jr.'s wife Bettina, and several White House officials, with passengers sharing interior photos on social media.
- The new Air Force One, dubbed a "palace in the sky," is longer, can carry more weight, and fly faster and farther than its predecessor, but is not expected to serve beyond 2028.
- The aircraft features a red, white, and blue paint scheme with the presidential seal and "United States of America" along its side, replacing a Boeing 747-200 that served six presidents since 1990.
