Trump’s New Air Force One Scheduled for One-Month Upgrade

The White House announced that the Qatar-donated Boeing jet now serving as Air Force One will be taken out of service this fall for “additional upgrades and enhancements” lasting roughly one month. During that period, President Donald Trump will travel on the older presidential aircraft.

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Qatar gifted the roughly 14-year-old jet to the United States at a cost of about $400 million. The aircraft was retrofitted over a little more than a year to serve as a “bridge” until Boeing delivers two newly built 747-based Air Force One replacements slated for 2028. The plane has drawn scrutiny because it lacks the defensive countermeasures—such as anti-missile systems—found on the older model. After a flight to the NATO summit in Turkey earlier this month, the Secret Service reportedly requested a switch back to the older aircraft for the return leg, citing heightened security concerns amid the Iran-Israel conflict. President Trump later acknowledged the need for further work, telling reporters the jet would soon be “maxed out.” The administration has also faced a leak investigation after media reports highlighted the security gaps, including subpoenas issued to journalists.

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Karoline Leavitt reiterated that the jet remains safe and that the upgrades will be completed within the one-month window. President Trump has suggested the aircraft could still be used for low-risk domestic trips and possibly for a planned visit to Ireland in September or a future trip to China, contingent on the upgrades. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg emphasized the complexity of the new twin-aisle aircraft, noting the company’s confidence in the design as it moves from the design phase to construction of the forthcoming Boeing-built planes.

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• “The amount of time they originally had was useful for scanning for security weaknesses and installing some basic equipment for communications and some limited level of self-protection,” — Richard Aboulafia, a managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory

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• “This is the most complex twin aisle aircraft we have ever done,” — Boeing’s CEO Kelly Ortberg, boeing’s CEO

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