The Boeing 747 jet gifted to U.S. President Trump by Qatar was officially unveiled on the 19th after being refitted. The newly designed, repainted version of 'Air Force One' was parked at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C.
After boarding the plane for a tour, Trump gave a speech beside it, saying that the new paint scheme consists of red, white, and blue, "It's time for a change."
Previously, 'Air Force One' mainly featured a blue and white exterior. The new paint job adopts a red, white, and blue combination, aligning with the colors of the American flag, and also adds Trump's favorite gold.
Trump stated: "Our pilots, designers, and engineers have prepared the largest 'Air Force One' in history, and it flies farther and faster than any previous 'Air Force One.'"
He said that the upgrades also include installing never-before-seen communications equipment on the plane: "That is the highest-level equipment, including Starlink among others."
The U.S. Air Force issued a press release stating that the refitted jet will begin its first phase of service test flights.
U.S. Officials Bid Farewell to Nearly 40 Years of 'Air Force One' Service
White House Communications Director Zhang Zhenxi posted a photo on social media platform X, showing the classic blue and white jet just returned from the French G7 Summit, and wrote: "Well done, loyal old friend. This is the final journey."
U.S. State Department Chief of Protocol Clary also posted a photo of the same jet parked at Joint Base Andrews on the X platform, saying he was honored to ride the plane on its "last mission."
The Boeing 747-8, valued at $400 million (about RM 1.653 billion) and gifted by Qatar, will replace the currently serving Boeing 747-200 model. The old 'Air Force One' entered service in 1990, with the military designation VC-25A.