The Washington Post reports:
President Donald Trump on Monday praised Qatar for offering his administration a free luxury jet, but current and former U.S. military, defense and Secret Service officials said he will likely have to waive existing security specifications to be able to use the plane.
Flight records show that the Qatari jet was moved five weeks ago to San Antonio International Airport, suggesting that preparations for improvements might already be underway.
But retrofitting the 13-year-old aircraft to current Air Force One requirements would take years of work and billions of dollars, current and former U.S. officials say. Such a task would be impossible to complete before Trump leaves office.
Read the full article.
Trump’s acceptance of an opulent $400-million 747-8 used by the Qatari Royal Family for his Air Force One is also a monumental security issue. The plane will have to be stripped to its struts, every inch and rivet inspected, and AF1 security and defense systems installed. pic.twitter.com/Vb5iGs6e7U
— Lawrence Surtees (@LSurteesTdot) May 11, 2025