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Gone quiet · last update Oct 14, 2026 / Donald Trump

Qatar's jet for Trump and its refit as Air Force One

Overview · reviewed October 28, 2026

In May 2025 the Trump administration accepted a luxury Boeing 747-8 from Qatar's royal family for use as Air Force One, over objections from Democrats and concerns from some Republicans about safety, ethics and the law.[1][2][3] After a refit, President Donald Trump unveiled the plane in June 2026 as a "flying White House" and began flying on it, while Boeing's own project to build new Air Force One jets has cost the company more than $3 billion in losses.[4][5][6] Security concerns followed it: in July 2026 Trump left a summit in Turkey on a different plane after officials raised concerns about the jet's lack of advanced defenses.[7][8]

Read the timeline

Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

After a refit, President Donald Trump unveiled the plane in June 2026 as a "flying White House" and began flying on it, while Boeing's own project to build new Air Force One jets has cost the company more than $3 billion in losses.[4][5][6] Security concerns followed it: in July 2026 Trump left a summit in Turkey on a different plane after officials raised concerns about the jet's lack of advanced defenses.[7][8]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · monthly average of weekly shares (UTC)

Apr 2022: average weekly share 13% (left 3%, center 7%, right 2%), from 1 of 1 weekMay 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksMay 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2025: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2025: average weekly share 18% (left 6%, center 8%, right 4%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2025: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2026: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2026: average weekly share 7% (left 1%, center 4%, right 2%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2026: average weekly share 4% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2026: average weekly share 2% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2026: average weekly share under 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 2 of 2 weeks, so far

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. Over more than two years each bar is a month: the average of that month's weekly shares, so the shape stays readable. The weekly table below keeps every week. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 14 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (17 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Oct 12, 20261506 of 4761%
Sep 7, 2026622634 of 4807%
Aug 31, 2026313218 of 4754%
Aug 10, 202623462493 of 54517%
Jul 27, 202609211 of 5612%
Jul 20, 202616381973 of 56213%
Jul 13, 2026510722 of 5594%
Jul 6, 202612291758 of 56010%
Jun 29, 20268161337 of 5697%
Jun 15, 202659519 of 2348%
Jun 2, 20253115 of 1893%
May 19, 202516281862 of 19731%
May 12, 20251920948 of 20224%
May 5, 20251114530 of 20115%
Feb 17, 202535412 of 1946%
Feb 10, 20252226 of 2143%
Apr 25, 2022715527 of 20413%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Oct 14, 2026 · first reported · Headline from Anchorage Daily News

    Trump defends gifted Air Force One from Qatar and makes 2nd Amendment pitch as he campaigns for GOP

Background

Trump had fumed over delays in Boeing's new Air Force One planes and said in February 2025 that he was considering buying a used aircraft.[9] Boeing's then-chief executive had lamented in 2022 the company's earlier deal with Trump to build the jets.[10] In May the administration prepared to accept the Qatari 747,[1] Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer placed a hold on Justice Department nominees over it,[11] and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accepted the plane.[3] The Air Force secretary said retrofitting it would "probably" cost less than $400 million.[12] Boeing's troubles are followed in another arc.

Trump unveiled the plane in June 2026, calling it "the world's most luxurious plane,"[4] and made his first flight on it days before the Fourth of July.[5] At the NATO summit in Turkey that month, US officials determined that the jet lacked advanced defenses, and Trump left the country secretly on an alternate military aircraft;[7][8][13] the White House then rushed to upgrade the plane.[14] The Justice Department subpoenaed New York Times journalists who reported on the security concerns, then withdrew the subpoenas.[15][16] In September an emergency slide deployed before a flight to Texas,[17] and in October Trump defended accepting the jet.[18]

Supporting stories (18)
  1. Trump defends the prospect of Qatar gifting him a plane to use as Air Force One
  2. Qatar PM Defends Plane Gift to Trump, Calling It a ‘Normal’ Transaction
  3. Pentagon accepts Qatari jet for Trump’s use
  4. President Donald Trump unveils the new Air Force One, a converted Qatari jet
  5. Retrofitted Qatari jet takes flight as Air Force One for Trump’s trip to North Dakota
  6. Boeing Has Now Lost Over $3 Billion On New Air Force One Program
  7. Trump switched planes in Turkey earlier this month because of threat from Iran proxy forces – report
  8. Trump says Secret Service and the military wanted him off Air Force One in Turkey due to threat
  9. Trump says he's considering buying used planes to serve as Air Force One amid Boeing delays - The Daily Reporter
  10. Boeing lost $1.2 billion on Trump's new Air Force One, CEO says
  11. Schumer places hold on DOJ political nominees over Qatari jet gift to Trump
  12. Turning Qatari jet into Air Force One would cost 'less than $400 million,' Air Force secretary says
  13. A threat, a catering truck and a plan: Why officials deployed an elaborate ruse to get Trump out of Turkey
  14. Trump’s new Air Force One from Qatar shelved again; plane's inaugural flight was to ND
  15. New York Times files motion to quash subpoenas served on journalists over Air Force One coverage
  16. U.S. government withdraws subpoenas for NY Times reporters in investigation of sources related to new Air Force One jet
  17. Qatari-gifted Air Force One deploys inflatable slide before departing for GOP convention in Texas
  18. Trump defends gifted Air Force One from Qatar and makes 2nd Amendment pitch as he campaigns for GOP

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 24 recorded updates

October 2026

  1. Trump defends gifted Air Force One from Qatar and makes 2nd Amendment pitch as he campaigns for GOPHeadline from WDIO Duluth · 7 outlets

September 2026

  1. Qatari-gifted Air Force One deploys inflatable slide before departing for GOP convention in TexasHeadline from The Hill · 35 outlets
  2. Trump to take Qatari jet on another overseas trip despite questions about its securityHeadline from KION Central Coast · 16 outlets
  3. New Netflix documentary chronicles Trump’s secret plane swap in TurkeyHeadline from WSVN Miami · 6 outlets

August 2026

  1. A threat, a catering truck and a plan: Why officials deployed an elaborate ruse to get Trump out of TurkeyHeadline from KION Central Coast · 7 outlets
  2. Rubio and Bessent stayed on decoy flight from Turkey as Trump switched planes, official saysHeadline from Daily Journal · 14 outlets
  3. Trump says Secret Service and the military wanted him off Air Force One in Turkey due to threatHeadline from KGW Portland · 98 outlets

July 2026

  1. Boeing Has Now Lost Over $3 Billion On New Air Force One ProgramHeadline from Jalopnik · 12 outlets
  2. Trump switched planes in Turkey earlier this month because of threat from Iran proxy forces – reportHeadline from The Guardian · 4 outlets
  3. GOP senator blocks Schumer request to stop Trump from using taxpayer money to ‘max out’ new Air Force OneHeadline from The Hill · 4 outlets
  4. U.S. government withdraws subpoenas for NY Times reporters in investigation of sources related to new Air Force One jetHeadline from Jonesboro Sun · 60 outlets
  5. Trump’s new Air Force One from Qatar shelved again; plane's inaugural flight was to NDHeadline from Bismarck Tribune · 47 outlets
  6. Boeing on track for 2028 Air Force One delivery, costs riseHeadline from Honolulu Star-Advertiser · 5 outlets
  7. New York Times files motion to quash subpoenas served on journalists over Air Force One coverageHeadline from Jonesboro Sun · 22 outlets
  8. The newest Air Force One is flying, but is it ready to deal with all the threats a president faces?Headline from ABC 17 Mid-Missouri · 60 outlets

June 2026

  1. Retrofitted Qatari jet takes flight as Air Force One for Trump’s trip to North DakotaHeadline from Green Field Reporter · 40 outlets
  2. President Donald Trump unveils the new Air Force One, a converted Qatari jetHeadline from NBC10 Philadelphia · 21 outlets

June 2025

  1. Turning Qatari jet into Air Force One would cost 'less than $400 million,' Air Force secretary saysHeadline from Breaking Defense · 5 outlets

May 2025

  1. Pentagon accepts Qatari jet for Trump’s useHeadline from Arkansas Democrat-Gazette · 59 outlets
  2. Schumer places hold on DOJ political nominees over Qatari jet gift to TrumpHeadline from The Hill · 17 outlets
  3. Qatar PM Defends Plane Gift to Trump, Calling It a ‘Normal’ TransactionHeadline from Bloomberg · 28 outlets
  4. Trump defends the prospect of Qatar gifting him a plane to use as Air Force OneHeadline from Minneapolis Star Tribune · 54 outlets

February 2025

  1. Trump says he's considering buying used planes to serve as Air Force One amid Boeing delays - The Daily ReporterHeadline from Green Field Reporter · 17 outlets

April 2022

  1. Boeing lost $1.2 billion on Trump's new Air Force One, CEO saysHeadline from KING 5 Seattle · 26 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →