Trump Says Donated Qatari Jet Will Undergo ‘Maxed Out’ Security Upgrades After Defensive Gap Disclosure

President Donald Trump acknowledged Sunday that the Boeing 747-800 gifted by Qatar requires significant security enhancements to meet presidential standards, stating the aircraft will soon be taken out of service to be “maxed out” with additional defensive capabilities.

The remarks came as Trump returned to Washington from New Jersey aboard the jet, a roughly 14-year-old aircraft he has indicated he intends to retain for his presidential library after leaving office. The plane recently served as Air Force One during a trip to Turkey for the NATO summit.

When a reporter traveling with the press pool noted the jet lacked visible antimissile defense systems and questioned its use, Trump replied that the aircraft possesses “a lot of capability” but confirmed it would be sent for upgrades within approximately a month. “They’re going to send it to have it be maxed out,” he said, adding the process would take about a month. It remains unclear what specific modifications Trump referenced or whether the proposed timeline is feasible; the White House did not immediately clarify the scope of the work or the schedule.

The president’s comments effectively conceded that the Qatari jet’s current security posture falls short of the purpose-built VC-25A aircraft traditionally used for presidential transport. Those planes are engineered as flying Oval Offices, equipped with antimissile countermeasures, electromagnetic pulse hardening, aerial refueling capability, and a comprehensive medical suite.

The New York Times reported earlier this month that the donated aircraft lacks the sophisticated defensive systems found on the existing fleet. That reporting triggered an unusual leak investigation directed by the White House, culminating in FBI agents hand-delivering subpoenas to Times reporters to testify before a federal grand jury.

Administration officials have described the Qatari jet as a “bridge” solution until two new, custom-built Boeing 747-8s—currently years behind schedule—enter service. However, the aircraft underwent a rushed and costly modification process to achieve basic operational readiness. Following the Turkey trip, Trump reverted to an older VC-25A for the return leg, a move The Times reported was made on the advice of the Secret Service due to the donated jet’s security deficiencies.

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