US President Donald Trump has taken his first official flight aboard the new Air Force One, a lavish Boeing 747-8 donated to the United States by Qatar, as controversy continues over the security and ethics of accepting such an aircraft from a foreign government.

The US president flew on Wednesday from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to North Dakota, where he attended the dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora.

The aircraft, valued at around $400 million, has been described as a temporary replacement for the ageing presidential jets that have been in service since 1990, while the US government awaits the delayed delivery of two new Boeing aircraft ordered for the presidential fleet.

First images from inside the aircraft

Photos posted by members of Trump’s entourage offered the first glimpse inside the newly retrofitted plane, quickly dubbed by some US media as a “flying palace”.

Among those on board were members of the Trump family, including Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Bettina Anderson and Lara Trump.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung shared images showing a spacious office area, a large conference room and shelves lined with leather-bound volumes.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also posted photos and videos from the flight on Instagram, describing it as “a truly unforgettable day”. One image showed the meal served to passengers on white tableware with gold accents, including ham and Swiss cheese croissants and fresh seasonal fruit.

Luxury touches throughout

The aircraft’s interior is dominated by soft shades of beige, brown and cream, with dark wood details, beige carpeting and gold accents on light fixtures — a design broadly in keeping with Trump’s well-known taste for opulent interiors.

The seating is more spacious than on the previous presidential aircraft, with lie-flat seats, massage functions and built-in charging points. Passengers also have individual entertainment screens, with options ranging from cable news to Apple TV content.

Even the smaller details have been customised. Seat belts carry the US presidential seal, while boxes of the traditional presidential M&M’s bearing Trump’s signature remained part of the in-flight offering. Passengers were also given white chocolate boxes decorated with the presidential seal and tied with a red ribbon.

The aircraft itself is larger than the previous Air Force One, with a longer fuselage and wider wingspan. Its exterior livery, featuring blue, red, gold and white, was personally selected by Trump.

“It’s the best passenger aircraft ever built,” Trump told reporters before take-off, visibly pleased with the new plane.

“You can either keep it low-key or show it off. And I think the country should be proud of it. It’s truly beautiful,” he said.

A brand-new feel on board

The maiden official flight also revealed the aircraft’s newly commissioned status. Headphones were still in their original packaging, blankets were sealed in plastic, and passengers were politely asked to help keep the aircraft clean.

For security and privacy reasons, a curtain separated the press section from the rest of the plane, limiting reporters’ view of staff and Secret Service movements during the flight.

Political backlash over Qatar’s gift

The Boeing 747 was accepted by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth after Trump’s visit to Qatar in May 2025.

Qatari officials initially avoided describing the aircraft as a donation, referring instead to the possible temporary loan of an aircraft for use as Air Force One. The US Department of Defense later said the necessary security checks and technical modifications would be made before the jet entered presidential service.

The arrangement immediately drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers and ethics experts, who raised questions about national security, foreign influence and the cost of converting the aircraft to presidential standards. Some critics warned that the final bill could far exceed initial estimates.

Trump dismissed the criticism, arguing that rejecting the plane would be foolish.

“The cost to American taxpayers is minimal compared to how much it would cost if we built it from scratch,” he said before boarding.

He also argued that the older Air Force One no longer projected the image the country deserved, saying the new aircraft had been fitted with the necessary security and communications systems.

The broader programme to replace the presidential fleet has suffered repeated delays over the past decade. The two new Boeing 747-8 aircraft ordered by the US government are now expected to be delivered in 2027 or 2028, several years later than originally planned.

Trump is expected to use the new Air Force One again next week when he travels to Turkey for the NATO summit. He has also said he plans to fly on it during a visit to China in November for the APEC summit.