President Donald Trump accepted a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet as a gift from Qatar, intending to replace the aging Air Force One. However, he later expressed concerns about its size, stating it was 'much too big,' despite previously praising its magnificence.
The 250-foot-long jet boasts three lounges, two bedrooms, nine bathrooms, five galleys, and a private office, exceeding the size of the current Air Force One by 18 feet. Its opulent interior features art-deco design elements.
Trump's desire for the new plane stemmed from feeling insecure about the current Air Force One's size compared to other Middle Eastern royals' jets. Delays in Boeing's delivery of a new Air Force One further fueled his need for a replacement.
While Trump claimed the jet was a 'free' gift, modifying it to meet presidential standards may cost taxpayers up to $1 billion. The acceptance of such a lavish gift from a foreign government has drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans.
President Donald Trump shrugged off ethics and security concerns to accept a new luxury plane from Qatar—now he’s complaining about its size.
“It’s too big,” Trump told reporters Wednesday. “Frankly it’s too big, much too big.”
He nonetheless touted the jet, which will replace the current Air Force One, as “beautiful, big” and “magnificent,” offering no further explanation for his issue.
Measuring 250 feet long, the Boeing 747-8 indeed stretches 18 feet beyond the older Boeing 747-200B that currently serves as Air Force One, according to The Guardian. But the $400 million gift from Qatar’s royal family, dubbed a “flying palace,” would seem to suit Trump’s taste for the grandiose just fine.
According to an “aircraft specification summary” document posted online when the plane was listed for sale several years ago, it has at least three lounges, two bedrooms, nine bathrooms, five galleys and a private office. The art-deco inspired interiors feature oversized couches and recliners, wood paneling, built-in bookshelves, and big-screen TVs.
Moreover, one reason Trump apparently wanted the new plane so badly is that the size of the current Air Force One made him feel insecure when parked next to jets owned by Middle Eastern royals.
“When you land and you see Saudi Arabia, and you see UAE, and you see Qatar, and you see all this, and they have these brand new Boeing 747s mostly, and you see ours next to it, this is like a totally different plane,” Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity.
“It’s much smaller,” he said. “It’s much less impressive—as impressive as it is.”
The new jet is technically a hand-me-down, having once been used by the division of Qatar Airways that serves the royal families and other top government officials. It now sits at an airport in San Antonio, Texas, where it’s being reworked by the U.S. Air Force to meet presidential requirements.
While Trump boasted Wednesday that he got the plane for “free,” Fortune reported that modifying the jet may cost taxpayers up to $1 billion. And at the end of Trump’s term, the jet won’t stay in service—instead it will be transferred to Trump’s presidential library foundation.
Trump has come under fire from both Democrats and Republicans for accepting such a lavish gift from a foreign government. A new CNN report has contradicted Trump’s “free gift” narrative, with multiple sources claiming that Trump sought out the jet after realizing that Boeing wouldn’t be able to deliver a replacement for the aging Air Force One until 2027. Two new Boeing 747-8 planes are currently being specially customized to become the next generation of Air Force One, but the project has been hit with delays.
“We’re waiting too long from Boeing,” Trump said Wednesday, “Boeing has got to get its act together.”
If you often open multiple tabs and struggle to keep track of them, Tabs Reminder is the solution you need. Tabs Reminder lets you set reminders for tabs so you can close them and get notified about them later. Never lose track of important tabs again with Tabs Reminder!
Try our Chrome extension today!
Share this article with your
friends and colleagues.
Earn points from views and
referrals who sign up.
Learn more