Trump has said that the gift was made to the nation, not to him personally, but he has also said the jet would be part of his library following his presidency.
He said: “This plane was transformed into a flying White House at a level of luxury that nobody’s ever seen before, probably even almost outside of an airplane. Nobody’s ever seen anything like this, and in only 10 months, a time frame no one thought possible.”
Of course, the Qatari royal family and everyone who flew with them have seen the level of luxury Trump is boasting about, as the interior of the jet has not been significantly changed.
Trump has described himself as being conscious of other leaders’ jets at airports when they have gathered for summits, and he had derided the current generation of 747s as puny in comparison to newer head-of-state conveyances.
Of the new aircraft, he said: “Everything was designed good. It was my taste, I will say. This is representative of our country. Now, when we land in airports in London and in Germany and different places, nobody tops this one.”
Trump said the Air Force had to build a new hangar for the plane, which is a larger 747 than the existing fleet. He said: “There will never be one like this. This is very unique. This is considered the world’s most luxurious.”
While the 14-year-old jet’s exterior has been repainted since it was handed over by the Qataris, the Air Force kept the interior mostly the same. It means Trump will travel using the same lavish lounge areas designed for the Qatari royals, instead of the more office- and workspace-oriented design of the current Air Force One.
The Air Force said that by making minimal changes to the previous head-of-state interior, the service was able to field the aircraft faster and retain the security features required.
Prior to whatever adaptations were made for presidential use, the jet boasted two full bathrooms, nine lavatories, a main bedroom and guest bedroom, multiple lounges, a private office, and cream-and-tan-coloured leather seating on both decks.
The interior of the plane is outfitted in tan, light brown and shades of gold, with brown wood panelling and cabinetry.
Many of the seats are of the modern lay-flat variety, according to officials who escorted reporters on a tour, a change from the current generation of Air Force One, where officials in the President’s entourage had to struggle with partial recline during long international trips.
The Qatari plane is a “bridge” to satisfy Trump, who has grown frustrated with production delays and cost growth as Boeing has worked to retrofit two other 747s to serve as the new Air Force One.
The schedule for retrofitting those planes has slipped to the point that they may not be ready before the end of Trump’s second term. Instead, the Pentagon accepted the Qatari jet and worked to get it ready for this summer at a cheaper price tag.
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