{"id":821,"date":"2026-07-01T14:10:20","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T14:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=821"},"modified":"2026-07-01T14:10:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T14:10:20","slug":"trump-takes-off-on-maiden-voyage-for-qatar-gifted-air-force-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=821","title":{"rendered":"Trump Takes Off On Maiden Voyage For Qatar-Gifted Air Force One"},"content":{"rendered":"
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President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed excitement for the first flight of the new Air Force One, calling the Qatari-gifted jet \u201cthe greatest commercial plane ever built.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Socialist Hot Streak Continues As Radical Leftist Unseats 15-Term Democrat<\/a><\/p>\n

Trump spoke to reporters on the tarmac before departing to North Dakota for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, this will be the first flight of what I think is maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built,\u201d Trump said. \u201cI think you know, to be honest with you, I\u2019m excited about the first flight. It\u2019s something nobody\u2019s ever seen anything like it, even you people with all your experience and all of your talents, you will never see anything like this.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

MAIDEN VOYAGE \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 https:\/\/t.co\/b1RBlnbrFt pic.twitter.com\/Xbqm2NHXwV<\/p>\n

\u2014 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 1, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A video posted by the White House\u2019s Rapid Response X account captured the commander-in-chief climbing the stairs of the Boeing 747-8, pausing to pump his fist before takeoff.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

.@POTUS departs for North Dakota to see the newly-built Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library \u2014 his first flight aboard the new Air Force One. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 pic.twitter.com\/K1FRzAsWmY<\/p>\n

\u2014 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 1, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In June, White House officials <\/span>bid farewell<\/span> to the old Air Force One, a Boeing 747-200, which has transported U.S. presidents across the nation and around the world for more than three decades.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe last ride,\u201d White House Communications Director Steven Cheung <\/span>said on X<\/span>. \u201cWell done, good and faithful servant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTHANK YOU,\u201d White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino said, <\/span>posting a video<\/span> of the aircraft, saying he has \u201cbeen fortunate to fly around the world on this iconic plane for 5 1\/2 years \u2014 of the 35 years it has been serving U.S. presidents.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The old Air Force One has been replaced by three Boeing 747-8s, including a luxury jet gifted by the Qatari government that sparked a political firestorm. The so-called \u201cflying palace\u201d is estimated to be worth $400 million, <\/span>The Daily Wire<\/span> previously reported. The other two Boeing-built VC-25Bs that will be used as Air Force One are still undergoing modifications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

CNN reported<\/span> that the Qatari jet received significant modifications for its new role as Air Force One, including a major overhaul to equip it with the secure communications and security systems required for presidential travel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Village People Lead Singer Dies At 74, Trump Pays Tribute<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThey made it appropriate for a president, that means the security and all of the different bells and whistles they put on, very complex style, but it\u2019s really quite something,\u201d Trump said Wednesday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a plane that the United States of America should have. Our Air Force One was 36 years old,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

His fight for a new plane cracked open a controversy at the beginning of his second term. In May 2025, multiple reports revealed that the Trump administration was in talks to accept a luxury jet from Qatar, a proposal that sparked bipartisan criticism.<\/span><\/p>\n

Critics pounced on the president, arguing that gifts from Qatar \u2014 a nation that spends heavily to build influence in the United States \u2014 rarely come without strings attached.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pro-Trump activist Laura Loomer <\/span>urged<\/span> Trump not to accept the plane, saying, \u201cThis is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

On Wednesday, Trump rebuffed that criticism, calling the flying White House, which has a red, white, blue, and gold design, \u201cbeautiful\u201d and something the country should \u201cbe very proud of.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo this was a gift from a country that\u2019s treated us very well, and they\u2019re an ally of us over in the Middle East,\u201d Trump said. \u201cFrankly, we couldn\u2019t build a plane like this because we wouldn\u2019t be willing to spend the kind of money necessary.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThis will be the first flight of what I think is maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built,\u201d says @POTUS as he departs for the opening of the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a plane that the United States of America should have. Our Air Force One was 36\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/zd9EG3RyD0<\/p>\n

Read more Congressman Gone MIA Reveals He Missed 3 Months Of Work Due To Depression<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 1, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed excitement for the first flight of the new Air Force One, calling the Qatari-gifted jet \u201cthe greatest commercial plane ever built.\u201dTrump spoke to reporters on the tarmac before departing to North Dakota for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.\u201cSo, this will be the first flight of what I think is maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built,\u201d Trump said. \u201cI think you know, to be honest with you, I\u2019m excited about the first flight. It\u2019s something nobody\u2019s ever seen anything like it, even you people with all your experience and all of your talents, you will never see anything like this.\u201d\u00a0MAIDEN VOYAGE \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 https:\/\/t.co\/b1RBlnbrFt pic.twitter.com\/Xbqm2NHXwV\u2014 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 1, 2026A video posted by the White House\u2019s Rapid Response X account captured the commander-in-chief climbing the stairs of the Boeing 747-8, pausing to pump his fist before takeoff.\u00a0.@POTUS departs for North Dakota to see the newly-built Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library \u2014 his first flight aboard the new Air Force One. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 pic.twitter.com\/K1FRzAsWmY\u2014 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 1, 2026In June, White House officials bid farewell to the old Air Force One, a Boeing 747-200, which has transported U.S. presidents across the nation and around the world for more than three decades.\u201cThe last ride,\u201d White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said on X. \u201cWell done, good and faithful servant.\u201d\u201cTHANK YOU,\u201d White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino said, posting a video of the aircraft, saying he has \u201cbeen fortunate to fly around the world on this iconic plane for 5 1\/2 years \u2014 of the 35 years it has been serving U.S. presidents.\u201d\u00a0The old Air Force One has been replaced by three Boeing 747-8s, including a luxury jet gifted by the Qatari government that sparked a political firestorm. The so-called \u201cflying palace\u201d is estimated to be worth $400 million, The Daily Wire previously reported. The other two Boeing-built VC-25Bs that will be used as Air Force One are still undergoing modifications.\u00a0CNN reported that the Qatari jet received significant modifications for its new role as Air Force One, including a major overhaul to equip it with the secure communications and security systems required for presidential travel.\u201cThey made it appropriate for a president, that means the security and all of the different bells and whistles they put on, very complex style, but it\u2019s really quite something,\u201d Trump said Wednesday.\u00a0\u201cThis is a plane that the United States of America should have. Our Air Force One was 36 years old,\u201d he added.\u00a0His fight for a new plane cracked open a controversy at the beginning of his second term. In May 2025, multiple reports revealed that the Trump administration was in talks to accept a luxury jet from Qatar, a proposal that sparked bipartisan criticism.Critics pounced on the president, arguing that gifts from Qatar \u2014 a nation that spends heavily to build influence in the United States \u2014 rarely come without strings attached.Pro-Trump activist Laura Loomer urged Trump not to accept the plane, saying, \u201cThis is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true.\u201dOn Wednesday, Trump rebuffed that criticism, calling the flying White House, which has a red, white, blue, and gold design, \u201cbeautiful\u201d and something the country should \u201cbe very proud of.\u201d\u00a0\u201cSo this was a gift from a country that\u2019s treated us very well, and they\u2019re an ally of us over in the Middle East,\u201d Trump said. \u201cFrankly, we couldn\u2019t build a plane like this because we wouldn\u2019t be willing to spend the kind of money necessary.\u201d\u201cThis will be the first flight of what I think is maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built,\u201d says @POTUS as he departs for the opening of the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library.\u201cThis is a plane that the United States of America should have. Our Air Force One was 36\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/zd9EG3RyD0\u2014 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 1, 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":820,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-821","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-2"],"yoast_head":"\nTrump Takes Off On Maiden Voyage For Qatar-Gifted Air Force One - Blue Route Journal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=821\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Trump Takes Off On Maiden Voyage For Qatar-Gifted Air Force One - Blue Route Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed excitement for the first flight of the new Air Force One, calling the Qatari-gifted jet \u201cthe greatest commercial plane ever built.\u201dTrump spoke to reporters on the tarmac before departing to North Dakota for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.\u201cSo, this will be the first flight of what I think is maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built,\u201d Trump said. \u201cI think you know, to be honest with you, I\u2019m excited about the first flight. It\u2019s something nobody\u2019s ever seen anything like it, even you people with all your experience and all of your talents, you will never see anything like this.\u201d\u00a0MAIDEN VOYAGE \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 https:\/\/t.co\/b1RBlnbrFt pic.twitter.com\/Xbqm2NHXwV\u2014 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 1, 2026A video posted by the White House\u2019s Rapid Response X account captured the commander-in-chief climbing the stairs of the Boeing 747-8, pausing to pump his fist before takeoff.\u00a0.@POTUS departs for North Dakota to see the newly-built Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library \u2014 his first flight aboard the new Air Force One. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 pic.twitter.com\/K1FRzAsWmY\u2014 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 1, 2026In June, White House officials bid farewell to the old Air Force One, a Boeing 747-200, which has transported U.S. presidents across the nation and around the world for more than three decades.\u201cThe last ride,\u201d White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said on X. \u201cWell done, good and faithful servant.\u201d\u201cTHANK YOU,\u201d White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino said, posting a video of the aircraft, saying he has \u201cbeen fortunate to fly around the world on this iconic plane for 5 1\/2 years \u2014 of the 35 years it has been serving U.S. presidents.\u201d\u00a0The old Air Force One has been replaced by three Boeing 747-8s, including a luxury jet gifted by the Qatari government that sparked a political firestorm. The so-called \u201cflying palace\u201d is estimated to be worth $400 million, The Daily Wire previously reported. The other two Boeing-built VC-25Bs that will be used as Air Force One are still undergoing modifications.\u00a0CNN reported that the Qatari jet received significant modifications for its new role as Air Force One, including a major overhaul to equip it with the secure communications and security systems required for presidential travel.\u201cThey made it appropriate for a president, that means the security and all of the different bells and whistles they put on, very complex style, but it\u2019s really quite something,\u201d Trump said Wednesday.\u00a0\u201cThis is a plane that the United States of America should have. Our Air Force One was 36 years old,\u201d he added.\u00a0His fight for a new plane cracked open a controversy at the beginning of his second term. In May 2025, multiple reports revealed that the Trump administration was in talks to accept a luxury jet from Qatar, a proposal that sparked bipartisan criticism.Critics pounced on the president, arguing that gifts from Qatar \u2014 a nation that spends heavily to build influence in the United States \u2014 rarely come without strings attached.Pro-Trump activist Laura Loomer urged Trump not to accept the plane, saying, \u201cThis is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true.\u201dOn Wednesday, Trump rebuffed that criticism, calling the flying White House, which has a red, white, blue, and gold design, \u201cbeautiful\u201d and something the country should \u201cbe very proud of.\u201d\u00a0\u201cSo this was a gift from a country that\u2019s treated us very well, and they\u2019re an ally of us over in the Middle East,\u201d Trump said. \u201cFrankly, we couldn\u2019t build a plane like this because we wouldn\u2019t be willing to spend the kind of money necessary.\u201d\u201cThis will be the first flight of what I think is maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built,\u201d says @POTUS as he departs for the opening of the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library.\u201cThis is a plane that the United States of America should have. Our Air Force One was 36\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/zd9EG3RyD0\u2014 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 1, 2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=821\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Blue Route Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-01T14:10:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=821#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=821\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c\"},\"headline\":\"Trump Takes Off On Maiden Voyage For Qatar-Gifted Air Force One\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-01T14:10:20+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=821\"},\"wordCount\":719,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=821#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/edb2ec847974ca135c8e88d4195e95be.avif\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=821#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=821\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=821\",\"name\":\"Trump Takes Off On Maiden Voyage For Qatar-Gifted Air Force One - 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It\u2019s something nobody\u2019s ever seen anything like it, even you people with all your experience and all of your talents, you will never see anything like this.\u201d\u00a0MAIDEN VOYAGE \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 https:\/\/t.co\/b1RBlnbrFt pic.twitter.com\/Xbqm2NHXwV\u2014 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 1, 2026A video posted by the White House\u2019s Rapid Response X account captured the commander-in-chief climbing the stairs of the Boeing 747-8, pausing to pump his fist before takeoff.\u00a0.@POTUS departs for North Dakota to see the newly-built Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library \u2014 his first flight aboard the new Air Force One. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 pic.twitter.com\/K1FRzAsWmY\u2014 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 1, 2026In June, White House officials bid farewell to the old Air Force One, a Boeing 747-200, which has transported U.S. presidents across the nation and around the world for more than three decades.\u201cThe last ride,\u201d White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said on X. \u201cWell done, good and faithful servant.\u201d\u201cTHANK YOU,\u201d White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino said, posting a video of the aircraft, saying he has \u201cbeen fortunate to fly around the world on this iconic plane for 5 1\/2 years \u2014 of the 35 years it has been serving U.S. presidents.\u201d\u00a0The old Air Force One has been replaced by three Boeing 747-8s, including a luxury jet gifted by the Qatari government that sparked a political firestorm. The so-called \u201cflying palace\u201d is estimated to be worth $400 million, The Daily Wire previously reported. The other two Boeing-built VC-25Bs that will be used as Air Force One are still undergoing modifications.\u00a0CNN reported that the Qatari jet received significant modifications for its new role as Air Force One, including a major overhaul to equip it with the secure communications and security systems required for presidential travel.\u201cThey made it appropriate for a president, that means the security and all of the different bells and whistles they put on, very complex style, but it\u2019s really quite something,\u201d Trump said Wednesday.\u00a0\u201cThis is a plane that the United States of America should have. Our Air Force One was 36 years old,\u201d he added.\u00a0His fight for a new plane cracked open a controversy at the beginning of his second term. In May 2025, multiple reports revealed that the Trump administration was in talks to accept a luxury jet from Qatar, a proposal that sparked bipartisan criticism.Critics pounced on the president, arguing that gifts from Qatar \u2014 a nation that spends heavily to build influence in the United States \u2014 rarely come without strings attached.Pro-Trump activist Laura Loomer urged Trump not to accept the plane, saying, \u201cThis is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true.\u201dOn Wednesday, Trump rebuffed that criticism, calling the flying White House, which has a red, white, blue, and gold design, \u201cbeautiful\u201d and something the country should \u201cbe very proud of.\u201d\u00a0\u201cSo this was a gift from a country that\u2019s treated us very well, and they\u2019re an ally of us over in the Middle East,\u201d Trump said. \u201cFrankly, we couldn\u2019t build a plane like this because we wouldn\u2019t be willing to spend the kind of money necessary.\u201d\u201cThis will be the first flight of what I think is maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built,\u201d says @POTUS as he departs for the opening of the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library.\u201cThis is a plane that the United States of America should have. Our Air Force One was 36\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/zd9EG3RyD0\u2014 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 1, 2026","og_url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=821","og_site_name":"Blue Route Journal","article_published_time":"2026-07-01T14:10:20+00:00","author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=821#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=821"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c"},"headline":"Trump Takes Off On Maiden Voyage For Qatar-Gifted Air Force One","datePublished":"2026-07-01T14:10:20+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=821"},"wordCount":719,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=821#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/edb2ec847974ca135c8e88d4195e95be.avif","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=821#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=821","url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=821","name":"Trump Takes Off On Maiden Voyage For Qatar-Gifted Air Force One - 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