Trump to travel on Qatari-donated Air Force One for first time

President Donald Trump will travel for the first time on the new Air Force One aircraft Wednesday, the White House confirmed.

Trump is scheduled to fly to North Dakota to visit the Theodore Presidential Library as part of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The trip marks the inaugural use of the Qatari-donated aircraft, more than a week after the U.S. Air Force began its commissioning flights.

Aircraft Modifications and Commissioning

The aircraft underwent significant renovations to make it suitable for presidential use. Following these modifications, the plane must complete a "final exam" and an unspecified number of commissioning flights, which allow the White House to verify mission capability and finalize safety protocols for the president.

Once the commissioning flights are complete, the aircraft will be officially commissioned into the active executive airlift fleet. It will then be available for presidential use alongside the VC-25A and C-32 fleets.

The commissioning flights have not yet been completed, and no timeline has been provided for their conclusion.

One of the original VC-25A aircraft previously used by Trump took its last flight the day before the commissioning flights began.

Background and Livery

Initial plans to replace the aging VC-25A fleet with two new VC-25B aircraft were scheduled for 2024. However, supply chain issues and a lack of properly cleared workers delayed Boeing’s plans until 2028. This prompted the president to use the luxury jet that Qatar donated to the U.S. in 2025.

The new Air Force One — a Boeing 747-8i — features the red, white, and blue livery that Trump originally sought during his first presidential term in 2018.

Upcoming Travel

In addition to the North Dakota trip, President Trump confirmed during the aircraft’s unveiling at Joint Base Andrews that the plane will be used for the early July NATO leaders' summit in Ankara, Turkey.

He also hinted that "at some point" this year, the administration will travel to China using the aircraft.

Trump is scheduled to appear in South Dakota on Friday for a fireworks show, though it is not clear which aircraft he will use for that event.

Cristina Stassis is a reporter covering the defense industry, national security, and military and veteran affairs. She previously worked as an editorial fellow for Defense News in 2024.