President Donald Trump on Friday unveiled a new Air Force One, designated the VC-25B Bridge, at a hangar at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The aircraft, a former Qatari-owned Boeing 747-8 converted into the official U.S. presidential aircraft, will serve as a temporary replacement while jets ordered directly from Boeing are delayed until 2028. Trump described the jumbo jet as a flying White House and the world's most luxurious plane, noting that it is virtually double the size of the previous model.
The new jet features a paint scheme preferred by the president in red, white, dark blue, and gold. The unveiling occurred one day after White House officials bid farewell to one of two Boeing 747s that had transported presidents for over 30 years. President Trump announced that the aircraft would be used during a ceremonial flyover in Washington on July 4 to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The acquisition has provoked political protest, as the luxury gift from the Qatari government is valued at $400 million, wildly exceeding the $50 annual limit for unsolicited gifts from a single source. Despite the controversy surrounding one of the largest foreign gifts ever received by the U.S. government, Trump stated it would be stupid to reject the gift and argued that the country must be represented properly. He further noted that the plane would eventually be donated to his presidential library.