Trump Says New Air Force One Will Be Taken Out of Service to Be ‘Maxed Out’
NYT > U.S. > Politics — 2026-07-19 22:05:00 — www.nytimes.com
Trump Claims Qatari-Donated Jet Will Soon Be “Maxed Out” with Security Upgrades, Despite Lacking Air Force One Defenses
President Trump said on Sunday that the Boeing luxury jet donated by Qatar, which he recently took overseas, would soon be “maxed out,” suggesting it could receive additional defensive capabilities to match the standards of older jets used for presidential travel. Trump made these comments after returning to Washington from New Jersey aboard the jet, a Boeing 747-800 gifted by Qatar—a plane he has said he plans to use for his presidential library after leaving office.
Trump’s Comments on Jet Security
When a reporter pointed out that the Qatari jet does not have antimissile defense systems, Trump responded, “Well, it has — it has a lot, and you know it has a lot of capability, but as I understand it, in about a month or so, they’re going to send it to have it be maxed out. So they’re going to be sending it, and they’ll have it be maxed out. It’ll take about a month.” However, Trump did not specify what upgrades would be made or whether the one-month timeline was realistic. The White House did not immediately clarify what “maxed out” meant or confirm the schedule.
Security Shortcomings and Contradictions
Trump’s remarks appeared to acknowledge that the plane’s security measures are not as extensive as those on jets built specifically to serve as Air Force One. The New York Times reported that the Qatari jet, which Trump flew to Turkey for a NATO summit, lacks the same defensive countermeasures as the older Air Force One, including antimissile capabilities. After this reporting, the administration launched a leak investigation, with the FBI delivering subpoenas to Times reporters.
The Qatari-donated jet, about 14 years old, underwent a rushed and costly process to make it safe for presidential use. In contrast, Boeing’s dedicated Air Force One models are equipped with advanced antimissile defenses, hardened wiring against electromagnetic pulses, midair refueling capability, and a medical suite.
Trump’s Criticism of Older Jets
Despite having repeatedly criticized the older Air Force One jets as “too dated and stiff in its appointments,” Trump ultimately flew out of Turkey on one of those older planes, reportedly on the advice of the Secret Service. Officials have described the Qatari jet as a “bridge” plane until two new, fully equipped jets commissioned from Boeing are delivered.
Conclusion
Trump’s statements about the Qatari jet’s capabilities and the promised upgrades raise questions about the accuracy and feasibility of his claims. While he suggested significant improvements would be made within a month, the specifics remain unclear, and the plane currently lacks the advanced security features of the traditional Air Force One. The episode highlights ongoing concerns about presidential travel security and the administration’s transparency regarding these critical upgrades.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/19/us/politics/trump-air-force-modifications.html