The Boeing 747-8 jetliner gifted to the Donald Trump administration by the Qatari royal family is set to be delivered to Trump by this summer. Described as a “flying palace”, the estimated $400m gift to Trump last year drew widespread bipartisan backlash, with lawmakers voicing ethical concerns over Qatar’s motives and questioning the 13-year-old plane’s security measures. Last August, Trump asserted that the aircraft would be ready by February, a claim met with skepticism from defense and aviation experts due to the extensive modifications required. The decision to turn the plane around was made “out of an abundance of caution”, according to the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt. After the return, Trump boarded Air Force C-32, a modified Boeing 757 usually used for domestic trips.

Source: The Guardian January 23, 2026 06:55 UTC