President Trump took his final ride on the original Air Force One on June 18, 2026, as the iconic Boeing VC-25A heads toward retirement.
White House officials said goodbye to the aging presidential aircraft as Trump returned from the G7 summit in France.
A $400 million Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar is nearly ready to take over as the new presidential plane.
The Qatar-Gifted Jet: Where It Stands
The former Qatari 747 has been painted and is now undergoing final government modifications.
The Air Force confirmed that the jet’s new livery matches Trump’s preferred red, white, and dark blue color scheme.
An Air Force spokesperson said the aircraft is on schedule for active duty this summer. It will serve as a “bridge” Air Force One until Boeing delivers a pair of new aircraft in 2028.
NPR reported in May that Air Force officials expected the Qatari jet to be ready to fly Trump by summer 2026, a timeline that now appears on track.
Trump Mulls Mount Rushmore for Inaugural Flight
Trump is considering making the new jet’s debut flight a high-profile event.
According to NBC News, the president is weighing an inaugural flight to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota as part of America’s 250th birthday celebrations.
The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence falls on July 4, 2026. A Rushmore event would be a major national spectacle.
No date has been officially announced, but the timing aligns with the Air Force’s summer readiness schedule for the new aircraft.
The Controversy Behind the Gift
The Qatar jet deal has not been without criticism. Ethics watchdogs, legal experts, and members of both parties raised concerns when it was announced.
Critics argued that accepting a $400 million aircraft from a foreign government raises emoluments clause concerns under the US Constitution.
The administration pushed back, saying the plane was a government-to-government transaction rather than a personal gift to Trump.
Qatar is a key US ally in the Middle East and hosts the largest American air base in the region at Al Udeid.
Washington Post noted that the jet’s handover marks the end of a prolonged debate that began when the arrangement was first disclosed.
The Original Air Force One: An Icon Retiring
The VC-25A fleet, the two Boeing 747-200s known collectively as Air Force One, has served every president since George H.W. Bush in 1990.
The planes are immediately recognizable in their powder blue and white livery, designed by industrial designer Raymond Loewy.
Trump has long preferred a different color scheme. The new Qatari-converted aircraft will be the first Air Force One to fly in a new visual identity since the Kennedy era design was adopted.
Geopolitical Context
The jet handover comes as Trump returns from a consequential G7 trip. He signed the US-Iran MOU at Versailles and met with Indian Prime Minister Modi at the summit.
The new Air Force One will carry him into the next phase of his presidency, which includes the America 250 celebrations, ongoing trade negotiations, and the 2026 midterm elections.
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