Senator Kevin Cramer, RN.D., discusses the visit of President Donald Trump to Qatar, the president being offered to a luxury jet and to the Republicans struggling with the bill on spending.
President Trump could stand on a new Air Force One plane in February, he said on Tuesday while speaking to press members aboard the current presidential plane.
“They say in February, maybe,” said Trump In response to a question on the moment when he expects to fly on the new Air Force One. “Much earlier than others.”
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In May, Trump officially accepted Qatar’s donation from a Boeing 747 and asked the US Air Force to upgrade the jet so that it could be used as Air Force One. Boeing was initially supposed to deliver two 747 converts last year to replace the current Air Force One current. However, this project has late years and billions of dollars on the budget.
US President Donald Trump points out as he climbs to Air Force One to Raf Lossiemouth, in the northeast of Scotland on July 29, 2025 at the end of his trip to Scotland. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
“The others are under construction,” said Trump. “… but we will get it this one and a half years earlier.”
Trump told journalists that he did not know the exact cost of modernizing the 13 -year -old Qatari jet for presidential use, noting that it is “up to the military”. Air Force secretary Troy Meink said last month that the project could cost hundreds of millions of dollars, while Democratic legislators said modernization could cost more than a billion dollars, according to Reuters.
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The jet must be equipped with secure communication systems, anti-missile defenses, aerial supply capacities, protection against electromagnetic impulse attacks and countermeasures for electronic jamming. It should also be released from any potential surveillance material.
“We are going to have an excellent 747. We need it,” said Trump, answering a question of whether the renovation of the new plane is worth it. “If you look at this plane, it’s 32, 34, 35 [years old] – I don’t know, it’s old. … It is very difficult to obtain parts. “”
President Donald Trump advises Air Force One to Raf Lossiemouth on July 29, 2025 in Lossiemouth, Scotland. (Images Andrew Harnik / Getty / Getty Images)
The two current Air Force One planes in which President Donald Trump fly are the military versions of 747-200B of Boeing, known as VC-25A. They entered service in 1990.
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“When you look at the 747 and, you know, the heads of state of the Arab countries … and you put it next to that, it does not show well for the United States,” added Trump.
Qatar’s gift was a Boeing 747-8i, the largest and most recent version of the 747 series by the aircraft manufacturer based in Washington.
The Air Force awarded Boeing a fixed price contract of $ 3.9 billion in July 2018 for two highly personalized, after months of negotiation. Boeing has already pointed out more than $ 2.5 billion in loss on the program.
The in -depth links of President Donald Trump with Qatar are delivered with a free jet offer in the growing influence of the Gulf State in American policy. (Getty Images; Photo Illustration / Getty Images)
“If you remember, Obama wanted to get the plane,” said Trump. “He was the one who was ready to sign a contract, and because he wanted to sign it, I guess they paid too much. And I was able to get … maybe [$1.5 billion to $1.7 billion] Out of the price of the same plane exactly. “”
Officially, the Air Force and Boeing declared that they were aiming for 2027 to complete the planes. However, the White House estimated that the calendar could be pushed even further – until 2029 or later.
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Boeing and the White House did not immediately respond to the request for Fox Business comments.
Kristen Altus and Morgan Phillips from Fox Business contributed to this report.
