President Donald Trump took his first flight aboard the new Air Force One on Tuesday, traveling to North Dakota for the opening of the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library. Before boarding at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, D.C., Trump spoke with reporters about the aircraft and praised Boeing for its work. “This will be the first […] The post See Trump’s Reaction To The New Air Force One appeared first on Red Right Patriot.

President Donald Trump took his first flight aboard the new Air Force One on Tuesday, traveling to North Dakota for the opening of the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library.

Before boarding at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, D.C., Trump spoke with reporters about the aircraft and praised Boeing for its work.

“This will be the first flight of what I think is maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built. I said to Boeing, ‘What’s the best one?’ and they said, ‘This is the best plane ever built,’” Trump said.

“They just completed it. They made it appropriate for a president. That means security and all of the different bells and whistles they put on. Very complex stuff. But it’s really quite something,” he continued.

Trump said the upgrade was overdue, noting that the previous Air Force One planes had been in service for decades.

“This is a plane that the United States of America should have. Our Air Force One was 35, 36 years old. It would be parked next to the new ones like this, and it really didn’t look appropriate for our country,” he said.

According to CBS News, the new aircraft is a 747-8 luxury plane replacing the military-grade 747-2.

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“We’re very proud of this. The country is very proud of it,” Trump said.

The aircraft became a point of public discussion in May 2025, when Trump announced that the Qatari government intended to give the plane to the United States. At the time, reporters pressed him on whether Qatar expected anything in exchange for the aircraft, which was reportedly valued at $400 million.

Trump responded by pointing to delays in the delivery of new Air Force One planes that had first been contracted during the Obama administration. CBS reported that those aircraft are not expected to arrive until 2028.

“It’s going to be a while before we get them,” Trump said, adding that Qatar knew about the delay and wanted to make what he described as a “nice gesture.”

“I could be a stupid person and say, ‘Oh no. We don’t want a free plane.’ We give free things out. We’ll take one, too,” Trump said. He added that the United States provides security support for Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

Trump also said the cost of maintaining the current Air Force One planes had become “astronomical.”

“I think it’s a great gesture from Qatar. I appreciate it very much. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer,” he said.

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“It’s not a gift to me. It’s a gift to the Department of Defense,” Trump added.

He said the plane would eventually be decommissioned and placed at his presidential library, comparing the plane to the Air Force One used during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, which is now displayed at the Reagan Library.

Once in Medora, North Dakota, Trump continued the trip with a ride by train and presidential limousine to the library site. The mix of travel gave the day a “planes, trains, and automobiles” feel.

A group of Rough Riders on horseback also accompanied the presidential motorcade as it approached the Teddy Roosevelt Library.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Trump tied the event to the country’s upcoming 250th anniversary.

“As we enter the 250th year, Americans must never forget we are a historic and heroic people, with a heroic spirit and a heroic purpose. And in this world we are a very special group,” he said.

“American courage won our independence; it liberated millions and millions from slavery, rescued billions from tyranny, and sustained American liberty for two and a half centuries.”

The Western Journal

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