Qatar’s reward aircraft is awaiting an overhaul in San Antonio : NPR

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP The luxurious Boeing 747 gifted to the U.S. authorities by Qatar is standing by on the San Antonio, Texas, airport, awaiting a specialised overhaul from a protection contractor in order that President Trump can use it as the subsequent Air Pressure One.

It isn't clear how shortly the aircraft — which touched off a firestorm of moral, authorized, political and safety issues simply forward of Trump's journey to the Center East final week — might be able to take the skies with Trump aboard.

The Air Pressure will take possession of the aircraft as soon as the paperwork to go it over is full, after which the retrofit can start, based on a U.S. official, who was not approved to talk to reporters on the document.

The Air Pressure didn't remark publicly on the plans, and the White Home earlier Monday deferred all inquiries to the Air Pressure.

"The president, frankly, has nothing to do with it," White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Monday.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6425x4283+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F92%2F7f%2F5ba1c8aa49e3aa3cc777b962f4b4%2Fgettyimages-2214441760.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6425x4283+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F92%2F7f%2F5ba1c8aa49e3aa3cc777b962f4b4%2Fgettyimages-2214441760.jpg" class="img" alt="President Trump and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at the start of a state dinner at the Lusail Palace in Doha on May 14, 2025." loading="lazy"/> President Trump and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at first of a state dinner on the Lusail Palace in Doha on Might 14, 2025. Brendan Smialowski/AFP cover caption

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5504x5504+2752+0/resize/100/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F12%2F54%2F2ccb2ef648f39ce95ba868c7b388%2Fgettyimages-2214285590.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5504x5504+2752+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F12%2F54%2F2ccb2ef648f39ce95ba868c7b388%2Fgettyimages-2214285590.jpg" data-format="jpeg" class="img lazyOnLoad" alt="President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speak during a meeting at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on on May 13, 2025." loading="lazy"/>

Qatar's provide of the $400 million aircraft got here to gentle as Trump was leaving for a visit that took him to Doha in addition to stops in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. On that journey, Trump stated Qatar intends to spend greater than $1 trillion on enterprise offers with america, together with an enormous order of Boeing jets from Qatar Airways.

The White Home stated the aircraft was a present to the Division of Protection, and would undergo the authorized protocols required when one thing is given to the federal government. Trump stated he wouldn't use the aircraft after he leaves workplace — although he desires to park it in his presidential library sooner or later.

"I respect it very a lot. I'd by no means be one to show down that sort of a suggestion," Trump stated.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5271x3514+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff6%2F15%2Faa3df7ad4d3797c7ca1bb61c0d92%2Fgettyimages-2214731824.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5271x3514+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff6%2F15%2Faa3df7ad4d3797c7ca1bb61c0d92%2Fgettyimages-2214731824.jpg" class="img" alt="President Trump speaks to reporters in the press cabin of Air Force One as he departs Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on May 16, 2025." loading="lazy"/> President Trump speaks to reporters within the press cabin of Air Pressure One as he departs Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Might 16, 2025. Win McNamee/Getty Pictures Europe cover caption

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Win McNamee/Getty Pictures Europe Specialists say retrofitting the aircraft would require years of labor However consultants say outfitting a aircraft like this to make it appropriate to be used because the presidential plane usually would entail no less than a number of years of labor, stripping the aircraft down and including what's essential to make it secure sufficient to hold the president.

That timeline means it will not be prepared till Trump is out of workplace. Shortcuts within the retrofit may create nationwide safety dangers, consultants stated.

"They would not be capable of set up the sorts of capabilities you usually discover on an Air Pressure One," stated Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory, describing a retrofit timeline of lower than 4 years.

"When it comes to encrypted communications, to digital warfare, to back-up energy methods — it would not have any of that in that timeframe," Aboulafia stated. "Anyone on that jet can be suggested to make use of burner telephones and watch what they are saying."

Nicholas Veronico, a former NASA contractor who labored on 747s and is an writer of a guide on Air Pressure One, agreed {that a} shorter timeframe can be problematic.

"If the conversion will be performed inside a 12 months and President Trump is flying around the globe on this new less-than-Air-Pressure-One Air Pressure One, then he is flying in a compromised airplane. And we're placing our president in danger," Veronico stated.

Members of Congress have additionally sounded the alarm, together with a few of Trump's Republican allies.

"I choose an enormous, lovely aircraft in-built america, made in America, purchased in America," stated Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.

Senate Democratic Chief Sen. Chuck Schumer has proposed banning the Air Pressure from retrofitting international planes as presidential plane.

Trump has bristled on the criticism, saying it would not make sense to show down the reward.

"Why ought to our navy, and subsequently our taxpayers, be compelled to pay a whole bunch of tens of millions of {Dollars} after they can get it for FREE from a rustic that wishes to reward us for a job nicely performed. This huge financial savings might be spent, as a substitute, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!," Trump stated on social media.