Trump Turns to Qatar-Gifted Aircraft Amid Air Force One Delays

US President Donald Trump is set to use a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar for his upcoming domestic and international trips, according to The Washington Post. The aircraft was gifted to Trump after a security incident in Turkey in July when he was covertly transferred from the ageing Air Force One aircraft to an alternative military plane due to an Iranian assassination threat.

The Qatari-gifted Boeing 747 has undergone a retrofit estimated at around $400 million but requires additional modifications to meet the requirements for presidential travel. The upgrades are expected to begin in October and take around 60 days. Trump's administration maintains that the aircraft can meet the necessary security requirements.

The use of the Qatari-gifted aircraft has sparked controversy over the acceptance of such a costly gift from a foreign government, with lawmakers questioning the sharp increase in costs compared to retrofitting the aircraft.