Trump eyes first Air Force One flight on Qatar-gifted jet for Mount Rushmore event

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump is considering making the first presidential flight aboard a newly retrofitted Boeing 747 linked to Qatar during a major Independence Day celebration at Mount Rushmore next month. The possible trip would mark the aircraft’s most high-profile use since its acceptance by the Pentagon.

According to the source, the idea is being discussed by administration officials as planning continues for Trump’s July 3 visit to South Dakota, though no final decision has been made.

Qatar-gifted Air Force One considered for Mount Rushmore trip

NBC News reported that Trump is weighing the option of using the aircraft for a fireworks event at Mount Rushmore ahead of Independence Day. The proposal is being reviewed by officials familiar with the planning, with logistics and scheduling still under discussion.

Air Force One was seen parked at Tuscaloosa National Airport ahead of a presidential engagement in Alabama (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

No final decision has been made, but months of retrofitting the $400 million luxury jet to serve as the presidential aircraft are nearly complete, the sources said. They added that White House officials have been discussing the possibility of making Trump’s planned July 3 trip to Mount Rushmore his first flight on the new aircraft.

Ethics debate continues over foreign-gifted Air Force One

The aircraft, reportedly valued at about $400 million, has sparked an ethics debate after the Trump administration moved to accept the luxury jumbo jet from the Qatari government for use as a temporary Air Force One.

Last year, the Pentagon took the donation from Qatar despite sharp bipartisan criticism and concerns about security and ethics of using the plane for official government business.

Aviation experts estimated the entire project will cost more than $1 billion to overhaul because of the installation of multiple top secret systems. The White House has said the jet would be handed over to Trump’s presidential library foundation at the end of his term in January 2029, with sensitive equipment removed.

The aircraft has also undergone significant exterior changes. It is being repainted from the traditional blue-and-white design associated with former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy to a red, white, blue and gold color scheme favored by Trump.

Mount Rushmore trip tied to July 4 celebrations

Trump’s appearance at Mount Rushmore is one of several high-profile events around July 4 marking the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. Mount Rushmore is expected to host a fireworks show on the eve of July 4, according to the National Park Service.

Once the Qatari plane, which the Air Force refers to as VC-25B Bridge, enters the rotation this summer, the VC-25As will continue to serve in the executive fleet and could still be used by the president as Air Force One, a US official said.

If approved, the flight would mark the first time the Qatar-gifted jet is used by a sitting president during an official trip, placing the aircraft at the center of a major national celebration.