The Air Force VC-25B bridge aircraft, photographed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, USA.Image: US Air Force
US President Donald Trump has unveiled a new presidential aircraft. The Boeing gift from Qatar is intended to serve as an interim solution until Boeing’s new Air Force One aircraft are completed.
June 19, 2026, 10:43 p.mJune 19, 2026, 10:43 p.m
Donald Trump presented the new presidential plane at Joint Base Andrews “CNN” reported. It is a luxurious Boeing from Qatar that was painted in red, white and blue and bears the lettering “United States of America”.
The aircraft is intended to replace the two existing Air Force One aircraft, which have been in use since 1990, until Boeing is expected to deliver the new presidential aircraft in around two years. Trump has complained several times in recent months about the delays in the Boeing project.
The new design is also striking: the machine does away with the light blue color scheme that was once introduced by Jacqueline Kennedy and characterized the appearance of Air Force One for decades. Instead, the aircraft now has a dark blue and white fuselage with red stripes.
According to the US Air Force, the aircraft will soon complete so-called “commissioning flights”. These are the final test flights to check the conversion. The plane was taken over by the Pentagon last year and prepared for use as a presidential aircraft in recent months. Unlike the new Boeing aircraft, the luxurious interior remained largely unchanged.
The idea of the aircraft is also likely to spark political discussions. The acceptance of the expensive gift from Qatar had already sparked criticism in the USA. (mke)