Trump says Qatari-gifted Air Force One to undergo major upgrades after security scrutiny

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump confirmed late Sunday, July 19, that the Qatari-gifted Air Force One will soon undergo extensive upgrades, offering his first public acknowledgment that the aircraft still requires significant work after questions about its security readiness.

The disclosure follows reports that the Secret Service advised Trump against using the plane for his return from this month's NATO summit in Turkey. Trump said the upgrade process will begin in about a month and take roughly the same amount of time to complete.

Trump details Air Force One upgrades

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews after attending the FIFA men's World Cup in New Jersey between Spain and Argentina, Trump said the Boeing 747-8 would soon be sent away for additional work.

"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," Trump said.

He added that the work would "take about a month."

The White House and the Secret Service have not publicly detailed what the planned upgrades will include or provided a more specific timetable.

Security concerns followed Turkey trip

Trump's comments come weeks after questions emerged about whether the aircraft was fully ready for presidential travel in higher-risk situations.

Although Trump flew the Qatari-gifted aircraft to North Dakota earlier this month and had previously called it "the world's most luxurious plane," he returned from the NATO summit in Turkey aboard the older Air Force One instead.

According to a New York Times report, the Secret Service advised Trump not to depart Turkey on the newer aircraft because of the threat of an Iranian attack.

The Boeing 747-8 was donated to the Pentagon by Qatar's royal family last year with the intention that Trump would use it as Air Force One. The aircraft is about 18 feet, 4 inches longer than the older Boeing 747-200 planes that have served presidents for more than two decades.

The “jet is intended to act as a bridge aircraft until Boeing completes two new presidential planes, which are currently scheduled for delivery in 2028,” as per the Hill report.

FBI subpoenas NYT reporters over leak

The New York Times' reporting on the security concerns later became the focus of a federal leak investigation.

As part of the FBI probe, federal authorities served subpoenas on four NYT reporters about 24 hours after the newspaper published its report, seeking their testimony before a federal grand jury, according to the Hill report.

Last week, the newspaper filed a motion asking a court to quash those subpoenas. Davis McCraw, the Times' top newsroom lawyer, called them "abusive and improper" in a statement, according to the newspaper.

The aircraft will transfer to Trump's presidential library foundation after he leaves office in 2029, and renderings of the planned library show the jet displayed inside the lobby, as per the Hill.