US President describes the $400m aircraft as unparalleled and thanks Qatar for the gestureLast updated: July 02, 2026 | 10:492 MIN READUS President Donald Trump arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland aboard the newly upgraded Air Force One, a Boeing 747 gifted to the United States by Qatar's government.AFPThe aircraft landed at Joint Base Andrews after Trump returned from North Dakota, where he attended events linked to the upcoming opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.Speaking to reporters, Trump said he was honoured to fly on the aircraft and praised its design and features."This will be the first flight of what I think is maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built," Trump said, adding that Boeing had described it as the finest aircraft of its kind.Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.The luxury jet, estimated to be worth around $400 million, was gifted by Qatar without conditions. However, the donation has sparked a fresh debate in Washington, with critics raising questions about the legal, ethical and national security implications of accepting such an expensive gift from a foreign ally.The aircraft has been redesigned with a new white, red and navy-blue colour scheme and includes several upgrades that make it similar to Trump's personal aircraft.Trump defended the decision to accept the plane, arguing that the current Air Force One fleet is outdated."Our Air Force One was 35 or 36 years old and it didn't look appropriate for our country when parked next to newer aircraft," he said. "The country should be proud of this. It's beautiful."The president also said acquiring a similar aircraft through traditional government channels would have been significantly more expensive."This was a gift from a country that has treated us very well and is an ally in the Middle East," Trump said, referring to Qatar. He added that Boeing had told him that no aircraft matched the one owned by Qatar."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 dollar," he said.Balaram brings more than two decades of experience in the media industry, combining sharp editorial judgment with a deep understanding of digital news dynamics.