Trump unveils jaw-dropping $400 million Air Force One gifted by Qatar as critics cry corruption

By NIKKI SCHWAB, CHIEF CAMPAIGN CORRESPONDENT Published: 21:04, 19 June 2026 | Updated: 21:25, 19 June 2026 President Donald Trump surprisingly debuted the new Air Force One on Friday.  The President was slated to meet with US Air Force service members at Joint Base Andrews on Friday afternoon, before flying to Camp David for the weekend.  What greeted reporters was a rally-like setup, with the $400 million Qatari-gifted Air Force One front and center.  'There will never be one like this,' Trump said. 'This is considered the world's most luxurious plane.'  Trump boasted that the new plane would fly faster and was larger than all the previous planes used as Air Force One, which is only the name of the 747 when the President is on board.  'There will never be a plane like this again,' he added, suggesting that the Qatari jet had more bells and whistles than even the two Boeing jets that will replace it after the President's term ends.  He said the new Air Force One would lead a planned flyover at this year's Fourth of July festivities, which are marking the country's 250th birthday.  Trump took a tour of the souped-up Boeing 747 before addressing the assembled crowd.  President Donald Trump walks off the Qatari-gifted Air Force One Friday afternoon at Joint Base Andrews, where he made a surprise announcement that the $400 million plane was now in service  President Donald Trump got his preferred color scheme on the Qatari-gifted Air Force One: Red, white and blue with gold, which is similar to the livery on his private plane, which has been dubbed Trump Force One He told journalists they would get a tour of the plane after he lifted off to Camp David. 'Are you smiling?' he asked members of the press pool. 'They don't smile at Republicans.'  The plane boasted Trump's desired color scheme, red, white, and blue - with a strip of gold - a redesign that he's wanted to see since his first term.  It's reminiscent of his private plane, dubbed 'Trump Force One.'  The President originally inked a deal with Boeing for two new Air Force One planes in February 2018.  Those planes would have his chosen livery - instead of the traditional 'Jackie Kennedy Blue,' which has been a signature of the design since the 1960s. But those planes have been long delayed and are still not ready.  During President Joe Biden's tenure, the Democrat canceled Trump's redesign, changing the livery back to robin's egg blue.  When Trump reentered office in January 2025, he made clear on day one that his Air Force One design dreams were not dead.  President Donald Trump delivers remarks Friday afternoon at Joint Base Andrews where he made the surprise announcement that the new Air Force One, a gift from Qatar, was now in service  Agents and Air Force officials stand outside the new Air Force One as President Donald Trump took a tour at Joint Base Andrews Friday afternoon  The presidential seal is seen on the new Air Force One that made its debut Friday at Joint Base Andrews. President Donald Trump pushed for this particular color scheme, a departure from the Jackie Kennedy blue used on US government planes since the 1960s He used his version of Air Force One as a cake topper on inauguration day.  And told the Daily Mail a month later that 'no matter what' he would get the redesign he wished for. Enter the Qatari government, which gifted Trump a plane belonging to the royal family worth $400 million. The plane will just be used during the Trump administration, as the two other Boeing jets are still being constructed.  It will eventually be a focal point in the downtown Miami high-rise containing the Trump presidential library.  That unique deal has had critics complaining about corruption.  White House aides had hinted earlier this week that the new Air Force One may not be far off.  Overnight Thursday, as Trump touched down after spending several days in France at the G7, they posted that one of the larger Air Force Ones, which dated back to the President George HW Bush administration, would be retired after that flight.   The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. 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