Trump confirms Qatari-gifted jet lacks anti-missile defense; cropped out of World Cup victory photo by Spain and FIFA

Trump Acknowledges Security Deficiencies on Qatari-Gifted Jet

President Trump has confirmed that the $400 million luxury jet gifted to him by the Qatari royal family lacks adequate security features, revealing plans to "max out" its defenses—effectively validating earlier expert concerns about the aircraft.

When a reporter asked Trump on Sunday why he was flying a 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 "maxed out" specifically entails or whether Trump's timeline is accurate, his remarks confirm what aviation and security experts had warned from the outset: bringing the jet to Air Force One security standards would require significant time and expense.

Contradictory Explanations

Earlier this month, Trump abruptly refused to fly the new jet home following the NATO summit in Turkey. At the time, he told the media the decision was made because U.S. soldiers at a European base "really needed to see it." However, reports indicated that the Secret Service had advised him to take the older Air Force One as hostilities with Iran resumed.

The aircraft—widely described as either a questionable gift or an obvious bribe—has already cost U.S. taxpayers $400 million. Trump has stated he plans to move the jet to his presidential library in 2029.

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

Spain's World Cup–winning team made clear they did not want Donald Trump in their victory photographs, with official accounts cropping the U.S. president out of images after he refused to leave the stage.

The official account for Spain's national football league shared an altered image of the team's celebration in New Jersey on Sunday, removing Trump from the frame. The FIFA World Cup account also cropped him out, leaving only the president's shoulder visible.

The Incident

Trump handed the World Cup trophy to Spain's team alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0. However, the president then refused to exit the photo, appearing to stall by chatting with players and positioning himself prominently before the traditional trophy lift.

Video footage captured several Spanish players politely pushing Trump away as they prepared for their official photograph. Despite repeated attempts by Infantino to guide him off the stage, Trump remained, finally exiting only after the team lifted its trophy and confetti cannons fired—a move widely interpreted as an attempt to ensure his inclusion in the shot.

Political Context

Trump's insistence on staying in frame followed weeks of hostile remarks directed at Spain and its Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, over NATO defense spending. Trump has called Spain "hopeless," derided its people as "bad," and threatened to "cut off all trade" with the longtime U.S. ally. He also raged against Spain after it refused to allow U.S. military use of Spanish bases for bombing Iran.

Despite this history, Trump struck a conciliatory tone after the match. Speaking at Joint Base Andrews, he said he had "spoken to Spain" and "congratulated them on having a great team," adding that he had "no tension" with the country's leadership.

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

Related: Trump Team Fumes as Real Story on New Air Force One Gets Out