President Donald Trump formally inaugurated the Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar as the interim Air Force One, saying the United States 'could not have received such a plane from anyone else.' Israeli media reported the ceremony, which marks the plane's official entry into service after prior announcements about its readiness.
President Donald Trump officially inaugurated the Boeing 747 donated by Qatar as an interim Air Force One on Wednesday afternoon, Israeli media reported. The ceremony marks the aircraft's entry into official service. Trump said the United States 'could not have received such a plane from anyone else' and praised the Emir of Qatar. The aircraft, valued at approximately $400 million, was painted in New York earlier this year.
Our thread has tracked the aircraft's path to service: on June 29, we reported that Trump disclosed the gift arrangement, noting that the Emir insisted on donating the plane after Trump said the U.S. could not afford such a purchase. That same day, we reported Trump confirmed the plane would serve as an interim Air Force One while new presidential jets remain under construction. Earlier, on June 23, The Zioneer reported the aircraft had entered operational readiness, and on June 20, we reported Trump presented the plane after it was painted in New York.
As The Zioneer reported on June 20 and June 29, the aircraft was a gift from Qatar, which Trump said could not have been purchased by the U.S. due to cost. The president has repeatedly praised the Emir of Qatar's gesture. The formal handover confirms the plane's operational role while the next-generation presidential jets remain unfinished.
No further details about the aircraft's deployment schedule, future routes, or whether this marks the start of regular use have been reported in this update.
8 developments
- StrongTrump displays Qatar-gifted interim Air Force One in New York
- DevelopingTrump's interim Air Force One enters operational readiness
- DevelopingQatar-donated interim Air Force One painted in New York, timed to billion-dollar pledge
- StrongTrump, before maiden flight on Qatari jet: Iran nuclear disarmament 'moving along well'
Source and signal
- Internal intake