President Donald Trump will make his first flight aboard the Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-8 next Wednesday, departing for North Dakota to attend a dedication ceremony at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, a White House official confirmed Friday.
The aircraft, which the Air Force has designated the VC-25B Bridge, will serve in a temporary capacity until a new fleet of Boeing jets is ready for delivery, a timeline now pushed to mid-2028. Boeing had originally been contracted to deliver the new planes by December 2024.
Trump unveiled the jet to reporters last week at Joint Base Andrews. The plane is painted red, white, and dark blue, a departure from the lighter blue color scheme on the two 747-200s that previously served as Air Force One. An American flag runs the length of the tail.
“Nobody tops this one, and that’s the way we have to have it for our country,” Trump told reporters during the unveiling. “Nobody even comes close.”
He also described the aircraft as “a flying White House at a level of luxury no one has ever seen before.”
Wednesday’s North Dakota trip marks the first of several events tied to America’s 250th anniversary. Trump is also scheduled to fly to South Dakota the following Friday for a fireworks display at Mount Rushmore. The president said last week the plane will lead a flyover of other military aircraft over the Capitol on the Fourth of July.
The old Air Force One fleet made its final flight carrying Trump back to the United States after the G7 summit in Europe.
Qatar presented the aircraft as a gift last year. Critics, including some congressional Republicans, raised concerns about accepting such a high-value gift from a foreign government, citing ethical and national security questions. The gifted jet is estimated to be worth $400 million. The U.S. government reportedly spent an additional $1 billion on security modifications before the aircraft could be cleared for presidential use.
