Trump Orders Security Upgrades for Qatari-Gifted Air Force One

President Donald Trump announced on July 20, 2026, that the Boeing 747-8 serving as Air Force One will be removed from service for approximately one month this fall for security upgrades to be "maxed out." The aircraft, a luxury gift from Qatar's royal family, has served as a temporary bridge since July 1 while Boeing remains four years behind schedule on a 2018 contract to deliver two next-generation presidential aircraft by mid-2028.

The decision follows reports from The New York Times and other outlets stating that the aircraft, refitted by L3Harris Technologies, lacks essential anti-missile defenses and electromagnetic pulse hardening. These vulnerabilities reportedly led the Secret Service to advise Trump to use an older jet when departing a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkiye, on July 10. Trump later made an unscheduled stop at Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the United Kingdom to swap aircraft, though he claimed the stop was for U.S. service members to inspect the jet.

In response to the reporting, the White House directed the FBI to investigate the leaks, resulting in grand jury subpoenas being served to New York Times reporters. While White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt maintained the aircraft is perfectly safe, Trump acknowledged he is a constant target for Iran. The president intends to keep the aircraft for his future presidential library once it is retired.