President Trump debuted a newly refitted Air Force One on Wednesday, a Boeing 747-8 dubbed the "palace in the sky," which was a gift from Qatar. The aircraft, which is 20 feet longer and has a 30-foot-longer wingspan than its predecessor, featured a personalized blue, red, gold, and white paint scheme.
The president traveled on the plane for its inaugural flight from the White House to North Dakota, where he attended the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. "It’s the greatest commercial plane ever built," Trump told reporters before takeoff. "I think the country should be very proud of it. And it’s beautiful."
Inside, the plane offers more legroom, seats with a built-in massage function, and individual Apple TV screens, a significant upgrade from the older model's televisions located at the front of the cabin and non-reclining seats.
The interior design incorporates soft shades of brown, beige, and cream, with gold light fixtures aligning with the president's preferences. A curtain separated the press area from the rest of the cabin, providing privacy for staff and Secret Service agents.
Despite some criticism regarding the acceptance of the plane as a gift, a senior administration official stated that the aircraft underwent thorough vetting with counterintelligence measures and a safety review. "We are confident the aircraft is safe, secure, and equipped with the most advanced technologies necessary to meet the requirements of the presidential mission," the official said.
The new Air Force One is scheduled for further use, including a flight to South Dakota for a fireworks display at Mount Rushmore, a flyover of the White House and Capitol on Independence Day, and upcoming foreign trips to Turkey for the NATO summit and China for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.