THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

‘Excited’ Trump inaugurates Qatar-gifted Air Force One with first flight <p>US president, who has long sought to replace current aging fleet, lauds aircraft, but critics say that beyond ethical concerns, plane may lack sufficient security for long flights</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/excited-trump-inaugurates-qatar-gifted-air-force-one-with-first-flight/">&#8216;Excited&#8217; Trump inaugurates Qatar-gifted Air Force One with first flight</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com">The Times of Israel</a>.</p> <figure><img src="https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2026/07/AP26182450858132-1024x640.jpg" title="&#8216;Excited&#8217; Trump inaugurates Qatar-gifted Air Force One with first flight" border="0" width="160" height="100" class="type:primaryImage"></figure>

Trump 'excited' for inaugural flight on Qatari-gifted Air Force One - CNN US President Donald Trump points towards the new Air Force One, a plane gifted by the Qatari government, before boarding, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on July 1, 2026. Evan Vucci/Reuters Donald Trump The Middle East See all topics Facebook Tweet Email Link Threads Link Copied! Follow As President Donald Trump boarded his inaugural flight on the new Air Force One , a luxury jet donated by the government of Qatar, he shared his excitement for the new aircraft and its foreign builders, saying the US “couldn’t build a plane like this.” “I’m excited about the first flight,” he told reporters ahead of his trip to North Dakota on Wednesday for an America 250 celebration. The new jet, an unconditional gift estimated to be worth about $400 million, has generated legal, ethical and national security questions. The plane has a new color scheme — white, red and navy blue — and other changes that make it similar to the personal jet Trump has used for years. “They just completed it. They made it appropriate for a president, that means the security and all of the different bells and whistles they put on. Very complex n…

Trump takes first flight on new Qatar-gifted Air Force One US President Donald Trump took his maiden voyage aboard the new Air Force One on Wednesday.

Trump takes first flight on new Air Force One, a gift from Qatar US President Donald Trump flew for the first time on Wednesday aboard a retrofitted Boeing 747 that he accepted as a gift from Qatar. The luxury aircraft, reported to be worth about US$400 million, officially joined the Air Force One fleet last month. It had to undergo extensive modifications at US taxpayers’ expense, including security upgrades, before being cleared for use. Trump used it to fly to North Dakota to visit the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. Trump accepted the jet in...

‘Excited’ Donald Trump takes first flight on Qatar-gifted Air Force One "Frankly, we couldn't build a plane like this because we wouldn't be willing to spend the kind of money necessary. They spent top dollars," U.S. President Donald Trump said

'Excited' Trump takes first flight on Qatar-gifted Air Force One <p>US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was thrilled to make his first flight aboard his new <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2009437">Air Force One</a> plane, thanking Qatar for the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1910682">controversial gift</a> of the luxury jet.</p> <p>Trump said the United States “couldn’t build a plane like this” — despite the fact that the heavily modified Boeing 747-8 aircraft was originally made there.</p> <p>“To be honest with you, I’m excited about the first flight. Nobody’s ever seen anything like it,” Trump told journalists travelling with him, including an <em>AFP</em> photographer, ahead of a trip to North Dakota.</p> <p>The 80-year-old president is due to attend an event at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library as part of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of American independence.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2072313524747985250'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="e…

Donald Trump has officially taken his first flight aboard the controversial $400 million jet donated by Qatar—and the first images from inside are already fueling a nationwide debate. #Trump #AirForceOne #Breaking

'Excited' Trump takes first flight on Qatar-gifted Air Force One 'Excited' Trump takes first flight on Qatar-gifted Air Force One by Saul Loeb with Danny Kemp in Washington Jul 1, 2026 Add AL-MONITOR on Google US President Donald Trump speaks to the press before he boards Air Force One for his first flight aboard the Boeing 747-8 that Qatar gifted the United States to use for executive travel — SAUL LOEB US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was thrilled to make his first flight aboard his new Air Force One plane, thanking Qatar for the controversial gift of the luxury jet. Trump said the United States "couldn't build a plane like this" -- despite the fact that the heavily modified Boeing 747-8 aircraft was originally made there. "To be honest with you, I'm excited about the first flight. Nobody's ever seen anything like it," Trump told journalists traveling with him, including an AFP photographer, ahead of a trip to North Dakota. The 80-year-old president is due to attend an event at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library as part of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of American independence. "They just completed it. They made it appropriate for a president, that m…

Trump takes first flight on Qatari $400M Air Force One jet President Donald Trump boards new Air Force One on Wednesday at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) By Dave Goldiner | dgoldiner@nydailynews.com | New York Daily News PUBLISHED: July 1, 2026 at 11:30 AM EDT President Trump Wednesday took his first trip on his new luxe Air Force One , a retrofitted Boeing 747 worth an estimated $400 million transferred for free from the oil-rich Middle East nation of Qatar. “I’m excited about the first flight,” he told reporters ahead of his flight to North Dakota , where he planned to tour the new President Theodore Roosevelt library. “They made it appropriate for a president, that means the security and all of the different bells and whistles they put on,” Trump added. “(It’s) very complex now, but it’s really quite something.” Trump says the new jet, which had to be given security upgrades at a cost to taxpayers of about $400 million , will be used until new versions of the presidential jet are expected to be delivered in 2028. The new Air Force One with U.S. President Donald Trump aboard departs for North Dakota on Wednesday at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (F…

Trump takes first trip on Qatari-gifted Air Force One - CBS News Washington — President Trump is traveling Wednesday to North Dakota in what marks his first trip aboard the new Air Force One, a Boeing 747-8 luxury plane gifted to the U.S. by the Qatari government last year. The president unveiled the $400 million plane earlier this month, which is replacing the military-grade 747-2 that has served presidents for more than 30 years. The Qatari-gifted plane is expected to be used until a new fleet of Boeing planes are delivered to the Air Force in 2028. On the trip to North Dakota, Mr. Trump is set to participate in a train ride and welcome ceremony to mark America's 250th anniversary, followed by a visit to the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library . Speaking at Joint Base Andrews ahead of the trip, the president marked the moment, saying, "This will be the first flight of what I think is maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built." President Trump speaks to the press before boarding Air Force One for his first flight aboard the Boeing 747-8 that Qatar gifted the United States to use for executive travel, at Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland, July 1, 2026. SAUL LOEB /AFP via Getty…