Trump says he will 'max out' security on Qatari-gifted jet after stopping use over lack of anti-missile systems

Trump Announces Plan to "Max Out" Security on Qatari-Gifted Jet

President Trump has announced plans to "max out" the security on the $400 million luxury jumbo jet gifted to him by the Qatari royal family, effectively confirming that insufficient security was the reason he abruptly abandoned the aircraft earlier this month.

When a reporter asked Trump on Sunday why he was flying the plane without anti-missile defense systems, the president responded:

"Well, it has—it has a lot, and you know 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. So they're going to be sending it, and they'll have it be maxed out. It'll take about a month."

While it remains unclear what exactly "maxed out" means or whether the president's timeline is accurate, his response confirms what experts have said since the jet was acquired: bringing it to Air Force One security standards will require significant time and expense.

Background on the Jet Controversy

• Trump initially refused to fly on the jet following the NATO summit in Turkey earlier this month, claiming U.S. soldiers at a European base "really needed to see it."
• Reports indicated the Secret Service advised him to take the old Air Force One as the war with Iran resumed.
• The aircraft—described by critics as a questionable gift at best and an obvious bribe at worst—has already cost U.S. taxpayers $400 million.
• Trump plans to move the jet to his presidential library in 2029.

Spain's World Cup Team Crops Trump Out of Victory Photos

Spain's World Cup-winning team made clear they did not want Donald Trump in their victory photographs following their 1-0 win over Argentina in New Jersey on Sunday.

Key Incidents

• Spain's national football league shared an altered image of the celebration, cropping the U.S. president out of photos after he refused to leave the dais.
• The FIFA World Cup account also cropped Trump out of the shot, leaving only the president's shoulder visible.

What Happened at the Ceremony

Trump handed the World Cup trophy to Spain's team alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino. However, the U.S. president then refused to leave the picture, apparently attempting to remain on stage through the traditional trophy lift by chatting with players and positioning himself prominently.

Video footage captured several Spanish players politely pushing Trump away as they prepared for their official photograph. Despite repeated attempts by Infantino to pull him off the stage, Trump remained. He finally exited only after the team lifted its trophy and confetti cannons were fired in an apparent effort to ensure he would be included in the photograph.

Political Context

Trump's insistence on remaining in frame followed weeks of scathing remarks against Spain and its prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, over NATO defense spending. Trump has:

• Referred to Spain as "hopeless"
• Derided its people as "bad"
• Threatened to "cut off all trade" with the longtime U.S. ally
• Raged against Spain for refusing to allow U.S. military use of Spanish bases to bomb Iran

Trump's Post-Game Remarks

Despite the tensions, Trump said after the game that he had "spoken to Spain" and "congratulated them on having a great team." He also stated he had "no tension" with the country's leadership.

"I have no tension with anybody," Trump remarked.