Trump Says Qatari-Gifted Air Force One Will Get ‘Maxed Out’ Upgrades/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ President Donald Trump said the Qatari-donated aircraft serving as Air Force One will undergo additional upgrades to become “maxed out.” His remarks appeared to acknowledge that the plane does not currently have all the capabilities available on the older presidential aircraft. The administration is investigating disclosures to journalists about alleged security deficiencies, including reporting by The New York Times.
Quick Look
- Trump said the new Air Force One will receive additional upgrades.
- He said work on the plane could begin in approximately one month.
- The upgrade process is expected to take about a month.
- Trump described the aircraft as having “a lot of capability.”
- His comments followed reports that the new plane lacks some security features of the older aircraft.
- The jet was donated by Qatar and retrofitted at a reported cost of $400 million.
- Trump continues to use the aircraft despite reported security concerns.
- He unexpectedly switched to the older Air Force One after a NATO summit in Turkey.
- Trump previously said the switch allowed US troops in England to tour the new plane.
- Two sources told CNN that the newer aircraft lacked some capabilities needed for international travel.
- A third source said it had many of the same features as the older plane.
- Security personnel reportedly preferred the purpose-built presidential aircraft.
- Four New York Times journalists received government subpoenas related to their reporting.
- White House officials were reportedly asked to surrender their phones.
- Susie Wiles and Kash Patel have been involved in the leak investigation.
Trump Says New Air Force One Needs Upgrades
President Donald Trump said Sunday that the Qatari-donated aircraft currently serving as Air Force One will undergo another round of upgrades.
His remarks appeared to acknowledge that the newly renovated plane may not yet have all the defensive and security capabilities found on the older presidential aircraft.
Trump discussed the plane after returning to Joint Base Andrews from the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey.
A reporter asked whether the jet had sufficient missile-defense capabilities amid reports that it was less secure than its predecessor.
“It has a lot of capability but, as I understand it, in about a month or so they’re going to send it to have it be maxed out,” Trump said.
Work Expected to Take About a Month
Trump did not identify the specific systems that would be added or improved.
He said the aircraft would be sent for further work in approximately one month.
“They’re going to be sending it, and they’ll have it be maxed out. It’ll take about a month,” Trump said.
The president’s description suggested that the aircraft requires additional modifications despite entering service following an extensive retrofit.
Trump continues to travel aboard the plane while preparations for the next phase of work proceed.
The remarks came after reports raised concerns about the aircraft’s capabilities during international travel.
The New York Times first reported that the Qatari-gifted jet lacked some of the advanced security systems available on the older Air Force One.
The newspaper’s reporting included questions about antimissile defenses and other protections designed to safeguard the president.
Trump has disputed suggestions that security concerns influenced his travel decisions, but his reference to “maxed out” upgrades indicated that additional work remains necessary.
Jet Cost $400 Million to Upgrade
Qatar donated the aircraft to the United States for presidential use.
The Trump administration spent approximately $400 million retrofitting and upgrading it before placing it into service.
The donation generated legal, ethical and national security questions because the aircraft originated as a foreign government gift rather than a plane designed specifically for presidential travel.
Unlike the older Air Force One, the Qatari aircraft was not built from the beginning around the protection and operational requirements of the US commander in chief.
Trump Switched Planes After NATO Summit
Concerns received renewed attention earlier in July when Trump unexpectedly stopped using the new aircraft while returning from a NATO summit in Turkey.
The president flew home aboard an older Air Force One.
The newer plane was sent ahead to Mildenhall air base in England.
Trump said the switch was intended to give American military personnel stationed there “a chance to tour the Aircraft.”
He rejected the suggestion that security concerns caused the change.
Sources Cite Differences in Capabilities
Two sources familiar with the aircraft told CNN that the newer plane did not have the same capabilities for protecting the president during international travel.
A third source said the Qatari-donated plane possessed many of the same features as the older aircraft.
Security officials reportedly felt more comfortable with Trump traveling aboard the older plane.
That aircraft was built specifically to protect the president and support the communications, defense and operational requirements of the White House.
The donated plane received its presidential modifications only after arriving from Qatar.
Administration Investigates Disclosures
Trump has privately expressed anger about reports describing security deficiencies aboard the aircraft, according to CNN.
His administration has launched an aggressive effort to identify officials who discussed the plane with reporters.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and FBI Director Kash Patel have reportedly been personally involved in the investigation.
Officials were asked to surrender their phones at the White House slightly more than one week earlier.
The government’s actions have increased concerns among press-freedom advocates about attempts to identify journalists’ confidential sources.
Times Reporters Receive Subpoenas
The New York Times said four of its journalists had received government subpoenas related to the aircraft reporting.
The subpoenas are part of a wider investigation into suspected leaks of classified information.
The Justice Department has said reporters are not the targets and maintains that investigators are pursuing people who disclosed protected government information.
The Times has challenged the subpoenas, arguing that they are excessively broad and threaten journalists’ confidential source relationships.
Upgrades Leave Questions Unanswered
Trump did not specify whether the planned work would involve missile defenses, communications systems or other classified protective technology.
It also remains unclear whether the aircraft will continue operating as Air Force One until it is sent for additional work.
The president’s statement did not establish that every reported security concern was accurate.
It did, however, provide public confirmation that the government plans another significant upgrade of the Qatari-donated jet after spending hundreds of millions of dollars on its initial retrofit.
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