It could become the temporary replacement for the presidential Air Force One, which has now exceeded 40 years of service, the luxury Boeing 747-8 donated to Donald Trump by the Qatari royal family as a sign of friendship and strengthening of relations between the two countries.
The news, predictably, sparked a heated political debate in the United States: the Democrats called the very expensive gift unconstitutional and contrary to the spirit of the institutions. For his part, Trump, true to his direct style, responded through his social network Truth::
“Qatar’s offer is a beautiful gesture and I would be foolish not to accept such an extraordinary aircraft for free. The fact that the Defense Department is receiving a 747 as a gift, without spending a dollar, to temporarily replace the 40-year-old Air Force One, in a public and transparent transaction, sends dishonest Democrats who would rather spend billions of taxpayer dollars into a rage.”
It is also the second time in recent history that a leader of a NATO nation has received such an air gift from a foreign state: The previous one occurred in 2018, when Qatar itself donated a first “luxury” 747 to Turkey, raising questions among opposition parliamentarians.
The gift from Qatar has already landed in Texas
The super jet landed on April 3 in the United States and has been in a hangar at San Antonio International Airport in San Antonio, Texas.
Departing Doha on March 30, it made stopovers in Paris Charles de Gaulle and Bangor, Maine, before reaching its destination.
Dream interior: a “palace of the skies” for Donald Trump
The Boeing 747-8, nicknamed the “palace of the skies,” is a concentration of luxury and opulence : eleven bathrooms, five kitchens, forty televisions, and gilded finishes.
From the conference rooms with mahogany tables and white leather armchairs to the private suite with king-size bed and marble bathroom, every detail reflects the opulent style Trump likes. On board, there is no shortage of a big-screen movie theater, an ultramodern gymnasium, and a spa for transoceanic flights. The common areas, with damask upholstery and Swarovski chandeliers, are more reminiscent of a seven-star hotel in Doha than a military aircraft.
Luxury even for presidential staff
The staff area offers hi-tech kitchens capable of preparing hundreds of meals, meeting rooms with advanced videoconferencing systems, and an armored cabin for confidential briefings. Polished wood floors, gilded accents and wider-than-normal corridors transform the flying experience into a veritable palace suspended in the clouds.
A temporary Air Force One
While surpassing any previous Air Force One in luxury and comfort, the Boeing 747-8 received as a gift from Qatar remains a commercial jet. It could temporarily replace the presidential plane for representative trips or domestic transfers, but for critical missions or in national security contexts the certified military fleet would remain necessary.
The real Air Force One, while less flashy in décor, has advanced defense systems, encrypted communications, operational capabilities in conflict zones, and mobile operations rooms for strategic decision-making. In other words, while the Qatari jet excels in luxury and comfort, it cannot guarantee the safety and operational capabilities of the real presidential aircraft.
- For more: also read our ranking Of the world’s most expensive private jets!
