Trump takes first flight on $400 million Air Force One jet gifted by Qatar

Air Force One’s upgrade is back in the spotlight as President Donald Trump took his first flight on a $400 million Boeing 747 retrofitted for presidential service. The aircraft, transferred at no cost from Qatar, replaces the 35-year-old jets currently used to ferry presidents. Trump made the trip to North Dakota for a tour of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, before returning to South Dakota on Friday to watch fireworks at Mount Rushmore. The jet will operate until newer versions are expected to arrive in 2028. While Trump said security upgrades make it “appropriate for a president,” critics raised ethical concerns because Trump and his family have business ties to Qatar and he has said the plane may ultimately be handed to his foundation or library rather than the U.S. government.