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President Donald Trump said Sunday that the Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar to serve as a temporary Air Force One will soon undergo additional security upgrades, following weeks of scrutiny over the aircraft’s defensive capabilities.
Speaking to reporters after returning from the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey, Trump said the aircraft would be sent away “in about a month or so” to be “maxed out” with additional enhancements.
“It has a lot of capability,” Trump said. “But as I understand it, in about a month or so, they’re gonna send it to have it be maxed out … It’ll take about a month.”
Trump did not specify what upgrades would be made or whether they would include additional defensive systems.
The comments come after questions about the aircraft’s readiness intensified earlier this month when Trump returned from a NATO summit in Turkey aboard a different presidential aircraft instead of the Qatari-donated jet.
At the time, Trump denied that security concerns prompted the decision, though he acknowledged the risks associated with serving as president.
“You know the life of a president is very dangerous,” Trump told reporters during the trip. “I’m No. 1 on the kill list for Iran.”
It was later reported that the Secret Service recommended Trump use the older presidential aircraft for the return flight because he was departing from a region near the Middle East shortly after hostilities between the United States and Iran resumed.
The administration has also faced questions over the aircraft’s security features after the Justice Department subpoenaed four New York Times journalists this month in connection with reporting on concerns surrounding the plane.
The luxury Boeing 747-8 was donated by Qatar’s royal family last year as an interim presidential aircraft while Boeing continues work on the next generation of Air Force One planes, which are now expected to be delivered in 2028 after years of delays.
Trump formally welcomed the aircraft in June during a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington.
Featuring a custom red, white and dark blue paint scheme selected by Trump, the aircraft departs from the traditional light blue livery used on previous Air Force One jets.
At the unveiling, Trump described it as “a flying White House at a level of luxury no one has ever seen before,” adding, “Nobody tops this one.”
The president first used the aircraft publicly during a July 1 trip to North Dakota for an event honoring President Theodore Roosevelt.
Sunday’s announcement signals the administration intends to continue modifying the aircraft before relying on it more extensively for presidential travel.
