Trump says Qatari-gifted Air Force One will be 'maxed out' amid security concerns

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the recently acquired Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet would undergo approximately one month of upgrades to "max out" its security features. This statement follows mounting concerns and reports that the aircraft, which entered presidential service on July 1, 2026, lacks the advanced defensive capabilities of its predecessor, specifically anti-missile systems.

Questions about the plane's security intensified after President Trump unexpectedly switched to an older Air Force One model on July 8, 2026, during a return flight from a NATO summit in Turkey amidst heightened tensions with Iran. While Trump initially suggested the switch allowed service members to view the new aircraft, reports, including one from The New York Times, indicated the change was due to Secret Service concerns over the new jet's security protocols. The New York Times reporters who covered these security deficiencies were subsequently subpoenaed by the Trump administration.

The Boeing 747-8 aircraft was gifted by Qatar's royal family last year after President Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the aging presidential fleet. The jet underwent a rapid refitting process by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies. Critics have raised various ethical, constitutional, and security concerns regarding the acceptance of such a substantial gift from a foreign power.