President Donald Trump will continue using the older Air Force One while his new plane, a luxury jet gifted by Qatar, undergoes further security enhancements this fall, the White House confirmed Monday.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the new aircraft remains fully safe for presidential travel but will receive additional upgrades expected to take about a month to complete. During that period, Trump will resume flying on the older, longtime presidential aircraft.
Trump addresses security concerns directly
Trump acknowledged the plan Sunday while speaking with reporters after attending the World Cup final in New Jersey. He said the new aircraft has significant capability but will be sent for upgrades in roughly a month to ensure it is fully equipped.
The comments marked one of the first times Trump appeared to publicly recognize that the new plane may lack certain capabilities present in the older aircraft, even as he avoided specifying exactly what the upgrades would involve.
A pattern of aircraft swaps
Trump has flown aboard the new Air Force One only a handful of times since it entered service in June. Following a recent trip to Turkey, he used the older plane for part of the return journey.
At the time, Trump said the newer jet had been sent ahead so that U.S. service members stationed in England could tour the aircraft. However, people familiar with the matter previously said the switch actually stemmed from a request by the Secret Service, which had concerns that the new plane was not yet outfitted with the same security systems as the older model.
Older plane’s defenses remain unmatched for now
According to sources familiar with the matter, the current Air Force One is equipped with specialized defense technology, including laser systems designed to disrupt incoming missile threats and other tools meant to misdirect potential munitions. Those systems have not yet been fully integrated into the newer aircraft, contributing to the decision to continue relying on the older plane during sensitive travel periods.
Background on the Qatar donated jet
The new aircraft was gifted to Trump by Qatar’s royal family last year, a decision that drew scrutiny from lawmakers who raised both ethical and national security concerns about a foreign government donating a presidential aircraft.
The plane underwent about 10 months of modification work before Trump flew it for the first time on July 1. Since then, it has been used selectively as officials continue evaluating its readiness for full time presidential travel.
What comes next
The White House has not detailed which specific upgrades will be performed this fall, though officials have emphasized that the work is intended to bring the new plane’s protective systems in line with the standards of the aircraft it is meant to replace.
Once the enhancements are complete, the new Air Force One is expected to become Trump’s primary aircraft for both domestic and international travel. Until then, the administration says the president will continue relying on the older, long serving plane to ensure consistent security protections during his travels.
The timeline suggests the new jet could be back in regular rotation by early fall, pending the completion of the announced security work.