Trump defends Qatari-gifted Air Force One before first flight: ‘We couldn’t build a plane like this’

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump isn't letting critics take aim at his brand-new Qatari-gifted Air Force One.

The 80-year-old vehemently defended his new ride as he boarded his inaugural flight on the new luxurious Boeing jet on Wednesday, July 1.

Refitted in Trump's signature color palette, a navy-blue underside accented with red and gold stripes, the $400 million jet entered service last month, replacing the military-grade Boeing 747-200 that had carried US presidents for more than three decades.

However, the unveiling of the lavish gift last year sparked fierce bipartisan criticism of Trump and renewed scrutiny over the ethical implications of accepting it.

Trump gushes over Qatari-gifted Air Force One's bells and whistles 

Before departing from Joint Base Andrews, Trump expressed his excitement for the new aircraft, saying, “This will be the first flight of what I think is maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built.”

“I’m excited about the first flight. Nobody’s ever seen anything like it,” Trump declared, adding, “They just completed it; they made it appropriate for a president – that means the security and all the different bells and whistles they put on – very complex stuff. But it’s really quite something.”

Trump hailed the aircraft as "a plane that the United States of America should have" while praising its striking makeover, featuring a bold red stripe, a navy-blue underbelly, and an American flag on the tail. “You can do two things: You can low-key it or you can show it. I think the country should be very proud of it,” the president said.

He defended the luxurious plan, saying, “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.”

Trump also recalled asking the emir of Qatar if he could use one of their planes in the meantime. “This was a gift from a country that treated us very well. They’re an ally of us over in the Middle East, Qatar,” he said.

He argued that the government's decades-old Air Force One fleet had fallen behind today's aircraft, presenting the new jet as a dramatic upgrade.

Inside Trump’s luxurious ride

Trump unveiled the new jet last month at Joint Base Andrews, calling it “the world’s most luxurious plane.” It has leather seats that recline flat, and seatbelts affixed with the presidential seal.

The airplane underwent an extensive military transformation to meet the rigorous requirements of presidential service.

Beyond its sleek exterior, the aircraft has been transformed with advanced anti-missile defenses, all-weather reinforcement, and secure, encrypted satellite communications, features designed to keep the commander-in-chief connected even during global crises.

Although the aircraft itself came at no cost as a gift from a foreign government, the rush to transform it into Air Force One triggered fierce budget debates in Congress.

The Pentagon initially projected the security upgrades would cost roughly $400 million, but the project drew fierce scrutiny after reports surfaced of a mysterious $934 million transfer from a classified missile defense program to speed up the aircraft's conversion.