GDELTWashington D.C.
Goldstein: 3.4Tone: 4.2
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Speaking during the unveiling ceremony at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Trump praised the aircraft's transformation and capabilities, saying it had been completed in a remarkably short period.
.@POTUS makes the inaugural exit from the BRAND NEW AIR FORCE ONE! 🔥🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/jBciB2atAV
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 19, 2026
The VC-25B Bridge aircraft has officially arrived at Joint Base Andrews!
— U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) June 19, 2026
More info: https://t.co/xhurcI0mjL pic.twitter.com/zyUpB99jqm
The aircraft, a luxury Boeing 747, had previously generated controversy after Qatar offered it to replace the presidential jet last year. The proposal raised legal and ethical concerns as it was considered one of the largest foreign gifts ever received by the US government.
.@POTUS: I want to thank especially the 250 people who worked 24/7 to prepare this plane for service — including many airmen here at Joint Base Andrews. 🇺🇸 https://t.co/cff9LWNE4W pic.twitter.com/YywqCHpnRy
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 19, 2026
According to industry groups, it was estimated that the aircraft's value was approximately USD 400 million.
In a statement, the US Air Force announced that the aircraft, designated the VC-25B Bridge, has officially arrived at the Presidential Airlift Group and will begin its initial commissioning flights before entering full presidential service.
According to the statement issued by the US Air Force Public Affairs, the aircraft has received its new red, white and blue livery and undergone final government modifications to serve as a secure executive transport platform for the President.
"The safety and security of the commander in chief is our highest priority," said Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink.
"From the beginning, we meticulously evaluated every requirement to accelerate delivery while maintaining the high standards expected of the presidential mission," he added.
The Air Force said commissioning flights will serve as the aircraft's final evaluation phase, allowing the White House and military officials to validate mission capabilities and operational readiness before it joins the active executive airlift fleet alongside the existing VC-25A and C-32 aircraft.
Officials emphasised that the aircraft has been equipped with advanced security systems and secure communications capabilities to ensure the President remains protected and fully connected during missions.
The delivery is also expected to ease operational pressure on the ageing VC-25A fleet until Boeing's long-term VC-25B presidential aircraft programme becomes fully operational.
"We are proud to deliver the VC-25B Bridge aircraft to the President," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach said.
"Many thought it could not be done, but the United States Air Force was able to execute and provide a secure, reliable airborne command post on an accelerated timeline," he added.
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Open article →GDELTMaryland
Goldstein: 4.0Tone: 1.8
Trump unveils refitted Qatar-donated jet to be new Air Force One
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Friday got a look at his upgraded Boeing 747, a plane gifted by Qatar, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland as the aircraft neared delivery to join the Air Force One fleet.
“This is considered the world’s most luxurious plane. When it was built, it was built at a level that will probably never be seen again,” Trump told a crowd in a new hangar at the base.
The jumbo aircraft, offered by Qatar as a gift last year, was overhauled by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies and has been flight-tested and painted in a red, white, dark blue and gold livery chosen by Trump, marking a departure from the iconic design used on Air Force One for decades.
Trump said the upgrade was necessary to keep pace with more modern aircraft flown by foreign leaders.
“These countries have a lot of respect for us, and yet they have a plane that’s much newer and much better. It’s a little ridiculous,” Trump said.
Trump said the rest of the Air Force One fleet will have the new design.
The addition to Trump’s fleet provides a more modern and luxurious plane that the president, his aides, security detail and the media will travel in. The upgrade’s cost has not been disclosed and it was done so quickly that some experts fear it may not be as secure as the existing Air Force One aircraft.
The Air Force’s fast-track effort skipped some planned modifications for the next-generation presidential jet in order to deliver an interim version sooner, but officials said it was up to presidential standards.
“The safety and security of the commander in chief is our highest priority,” Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said in a statement on Friday. “From the beginning, we meticulously evaluated every requirement to accelerate delivery while maintaining the high standards expected of the presidential mission.”
Trump told the crowd the aircraft will lead a formation he described as the “biggest flyover in American history” during a July 4 ceremony scheduled for the National Mall.
“This is going to lead a group of many, many planes,” Trump said.
Trump returned from Europe on Thursday morning aboard a military-grade Boeing 747-200 that has served U.S. presidents for more than three decades. Trump said it was the aircraft’s final trip, adding that it would ultimately be placed in a museum.
The U.S. government’s acceptance of the luxury 747 from Qatar raised questions about whether it was an inappropriately expensive gift. Trump dismissed criticism of the arrangement, saying it would be “stupid” to turn down the offer.
Retrofitting the luxury plane required security upgrades, communications improvements to prevent eavesdropping, and missile defense capabilities, experts said. Democratic senators estimated the conversion could cost more than $1 billion and raised security risks.
The Qatari jet is serving as a bridge aircraft while Boeing works to deliver two purpose-built 747-8s under a $3.9 billion fixed-price contract signed in 2018. That program is four years behind schedule, with delivery not expected until mid-2028 – a delay that risks leaving Trump without a new plane before his term ends in January 2029. Costs on the Boeing program have ballooned to more than $5 billion, with the company posting $2.4 billion in charges against earnings from the project.
The new color scheme marks a departure from the white and two-tone blue design dating to President John F. Kennedy’s administration. The Air Force revived elements of a red, white and blue palette that Trump had previously pushed for but which was scrapped in 2022 after the service determined darker colors could cause overheating.
The new red, white, dark blue and gold livery will also be applied to the VC-25B – the military designation for the Boeing 747-8 – and to four modified Boeing 757-200s used to transport the vice president, cabinet members and other senior officials.
Open article →NBCWashington
Goldstein: —Tone: —
President Donald Trump on Friday officially unveiled his new Air Force One jet that was contentiously given to him by the Qatari government, declaring it would be used during a ceremonial flyover in Washington on July 4 to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Trump welcomed the delivery of the luxurious Boeing 747 in an appearance at Joint Base Andrews just outside Washington that began with him exiting the aircraft and walking down the steps.
Decked out in a red, white and dark-blue blue color scheme — a departure from the lighter blue on the previous model — the jet is set to be used by Trump during events marking the nation’s landmark anniversary.
“Nobody tops this one, and that’s the way we have to have it for our country. Nobody even comes close,” Trump said.
The jet will lead a flyover — “the likes of which we’ve never seen before,” Trump said — involving various other military planes on July 4.
He repeatedly praised the plane, calling it “the largest and the greatest in every aspect.” It will be a “flying White House at a level of luxury no one has ever seen before,” he added.
Trump indicated that his return journey from the G7 summit in France this week would be the last time he uses the existing fleet.
The plane is estimated to be worth $400 million, but the U.S. government has likely spent substantially more to make it ready for use.
The Qatari government’s involvement led to bipartisan criticism that the gift was inappropriate, raising both security and ethical issues. The project to overhaul the plane, including security upgrades, could cost more than $1 billion, according to aviation experts.
Although it is set to be used by the president for official duties, the White House has said the plane will ultimately be given to Trump’s presidential library foundation when he leaves office.
The Air Force said in a press release Friday that the plane is ready to commence “initial commissioning flights” to ensure it can safely transport the president and enable him to fulfill his duties. The plane, referred to by the Air Force as VC-25B Bridge, is now a “secure, modified executive platform,” the statement said.
The plane will “relieve pressure” on the existing fleet used to transport the president, according to the Air Force.
The Air Force One designation is given to any plane on which the president travels. There are two other planes, both 747 jumbo jets, that are currently used.
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