JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Maryland—President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the Qatari-donated jet that serves as an Air Force One plane will soon be sent away for upgrades.
Trump started flying aboard the jumbo jet on July 1 after accepting the plane as a gift last year, when an accelerated effort to renovate the Boeing 747 for presidential use began.
However, Trump did not use the new aircraft for his flight from Turkey to the United Kingdom on July 8, amid heightened tensions with Iran. He flew aboard an older Air Force One to London in what he described as a move "for old time's sake," but later boarded the new plane to return to the United States.
Trump was asked about whether the newly renovated airplane lacked missile-defense capabilities as he returned home from a trip to the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday.
"It has a lot of capability," Trump said of the plane. "But as I understand it, in about a month or so, they're gonna send it to have it be maxed out...It'll take about a month."
The Air Force did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The new plane, with red, white, dark blue and gold livery chosen by Trump, was refitted by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies.
It's meant to serve as a temporary replacement as Boeing has struggled to deliver long-delayed next-generation Air Force One planes. Boeing is working to deliver two purpose-built 747-8s under a $3.9 billion fixed-price contract signed in 2018 that's now four years behind schedule and over budget. Delivery of the new planes is expected in mid-2028.