Trump Confirms Air Force One Will Be ‘Maxed Out’ for Upgrade
President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday that the Qatari-donated Boeing 747-8 serving as Air Force One will be taken out of service in approximately one month for extensive upgrades to “max out” its defensive capabilities, effectively acknowledging longstanding concerns about the aircraft’s security features. The announcement, made upon Trump’s return from the World Cup final in New Jersey, comes amid heightened tensions with Iran and a widening controversy over press freedom following the subpoena of journalists who first reported on the plane’s vulnerabilities.
Background: A Controversial Gift
The Boeing 747-8 was donated by Qatar to the United States in 2025 as a temporary “bridge” aircraft, intended to fill the gap while Boeing struggles to deliver two purpose-built Air Force One planes under a $3.9 billion fixed-price contract signed in 2018. That program is now four years behind schedule and over budget, with Boeing absorbing $2.5 billion in cost overruns. Delivery of the new planes is not expected until mid-2028, according to Military Times.
The gift was controversial from the start. Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, writing in Defense News in May 2025, called it “wrong to accept this gift from any perspective,” arguing that Air Force One is a symbol of American sovereignty, not a foreign gift. He also raised ethical concerns, noting that federal employees are banned from accepting foreign gifts and questioning what Qatar might receive in return given the Trump Organization’s business interests in the country.
Security Concerns Emerge
The plane, refurbished by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies, entered service on July 1, 2026, featuring a red, white, dark blue and gold livery chosen by Trump. But questions about its security capabilities surfaced almost immediately. On July 8, Trump unexpectedly switched to an older Air Force One plane for his flight from the NATO summit in Turkey to the United Kingdom. While the White House initially described the move as “distraction and misdirection” to protect the president, speculation swirled that security concerns — particularly related to the war with Iran — were the true reason.
According to the New York Post, Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews: “You know it has a lot of capability, but as I understand it, in about a month or so, they’re going to send it to have it be maxed out.” He added, “It’ll take about a month.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the timeline Monday, stating: “The new Air Force One is perfectly safe for the president’s travels, but will receive additional upgrades and enhancements in the fall which will take approximately one month to complete. During that time, the President will fly on the old Air Force One.”
The Iran Threat Context
The security concerns are amplified by the ongoing conflict with Iran. At the NATO summit, Trump stated he is “number one on the kill list” for Iran, saying: “They want to take out the US leader, me. And so far, I guess I’ve been a little bit lucky. But that maybe doesn’t last very long.” The U.S. has been engaged in military strikes against Iranian forces, and the Strait of Hormuz has seen sharply reduced shipping traffic due to the escalation.
Press Freedom Under Fire
The controversy deepened on July 10, when the office of Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton subpoenaed several New York Times journalists after the paper published a story reporting that the Qatari jet lacked sufficient security measures, including an advanced missile defense system. The Associated Press reported that the subpoenas seek to force the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury, marking a dramatic escalation in the administration’s pressure on the media.
Chief of staff Susie Wiles and FBI Director Kash Patel have been personally involved in investigating who spoke to reporters about the plane’s security issues, with officials asked to turn over their phones at the White House. The New York Times has moved to block the subpoenas in federal court, arguing they threaten press freedom and the ability of journalists to report on matters of public concern.
Cost and Operational Implications
The Qatari jet is valued at approximately $400 million, with the cost of converting it for presidential use estimated at $1 billion. The additional upgrades to “max out” its capabilities will add further costs, which critics note will be borne by American taxpayers. If the plane is transferred to Trump’s presidential library after his term, as some reports have suggested, those investments would be lost after a brief period of use.
During the month-long upgrade period, Trump will rely on the older Air Force One aircraft, which defense officials have long refused to allow close-up photographs of its rear section — suggesting that plane is equipped with advanced technology to counter missile threats.
What’s Next
The coming weeks will determine several key outcomes: the specific defensive upgrades to be installed and their cost, the resolution of the New York Times subpoena battle in federal court, and whether the older Air Force One can reliably handle presidential duties during the upgrade period. The episode also raises broader questions about the long-term viability of the Qatari-donated aircraft as a presidential transport and what, if anything, Qatar received in return for its gift.