back to article Qatar’s $400M jet for Trump is a gold-plated security nightmare

The Trump administration is set to accept a $400 million luxury 747-8 from the royal family of Qatar – a lavish "palace in the sky" meant as a temporary Air Force One. But getting it up to presidential security standards could take years and cost hundreds of millions more. Technically, any US Air Force aircraft carrying the …

  1. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    golden hello

    hmm chaff'ing and ANAL rockets what's going on in there ? I reckon it will be his freak-off plane for those special get aways from Melania whining on about when her bitcoins not making the big time yet.

  2. Jim Mitchell
    Black Helicopters

    https://www.twz.com/air/turning-qatars-gifted-747-into-air-force-one-will-be-anything-but-free

    is a good article on the subject

  3. IGotOut Silver badge

    Let's see...

    .... authoritarian country with terrible human rights records bribes authoritarian country with human rights record rapidly going downhill in order to seal deal on military hardware, in order to commit more human rights abused.

    Got it

    1. MachDiamond Silver badge

      Re: Let's see...

      "authoritarian country with terrible human rights" ........... and lots of oil

      More than the pollution, oil's political ramifications are worse. Moving on with energy generation, usage and management to get away from the stranglehold oil has should be high on the priority list. Nuclear power is the most obvious baseline source, but not the same thing that's been used for the last 60 years.

    2. Groo The Wanderer - A Canuck

      Re: Let's see...

      But most important of all, the gift strokes the Pumpkin Fuhrer's ego, and that is all he really cares about...

      1. has been
        Happy

        Re: Let's see...

        I think that it would be a righteous, friendly thing for us in Europe to donate an aeroplane to be the new 'spare' Airforce one. Maybe an A380?

        1. Patch Wombat

          Re: Let's see...

          An Airbus Beluga

  4. MachDiamond Silver badge

    And then there was 2

    I'm glad the article pointed out that there are 2 VC-25A's. AF1 is what the President is currently in and the second shadows all missions and is kept at a separate airport nearby and if that's not possible, it's kept aloft with in-air refueling in the vicinity which isn't what they like to do. In addition, there's more military cargo aircraft that haul around the limo, security forces, supplies, etc. In the event of an emergency, one of those aircraft could be used to evacuate the President. The 2 active VC-25A's are pampered machines and don't have as many hours on them as something in commercial service so they should last much much longer.

    To accept the 747 from the Saudi's, take it completely apart and rebuild back to a high enough spec would cost more and take longer than the current builds. For that aircraft to then be retired to being a display item in the Trump Presidential Library is DJT feathering his own nest. Only a couple of Presidents have aircraft in their libraries and it's sort of luck of the draw as aircraft are retired and money is available to build an installation and move the aircraft to the location. It's millions just to decommission the aircraft and not only remove sensitive equipment, but then not leave hints about what was installed where and how it might work. What's left of control panels and comm gear must be stripped down to just props with some control labels removed and some entire panels dummied-up.

    1. Blazde Silver badge

      Re: And then there was 2

      AF1 is what the President is currently in and the second shadows all missions and is kept at a separate airport nearby and if that's not possible, it's kept aloft with in-air refueling in the vicinity which isn't what they like to do. In addition, there's more military cargo aircraft that haul around the limo, security forces, supplies, etc.

      I wonder just how sensible this whole expensive, redundant, anti-missile setup is with respect to plausible threats, and to what extent it's already mainly for show without adding gold-plating as well. (Consider for instance that previous US presidents who've bought it in the line of duty have done so safely on the ground in the US due to inadequate protection from small arms fire).

      I had a bit of a laugh at the retrofitting for in-flight refuelling hassle because the military dayjob of the UK government's official airplane *is* air-to-air refuelling of other aircraft (including apparently, foreign government jets).

      1. MachDiamond Silver badge

        Re: And then there was 2

        "I wonder just how sensible this whole expensive, redundant, anti-missile setup is with respect to plausible threats, "

        The US government and it's rouge TLA's (Three Letter Agencies) have been fairly generous handing out stuff such as Stinger Missiles so "plausible" for ManPad isn't that high of a bar just based on the US scoring own goals. In a conflict, knocking the President out would cause a lot of confusion. While there's an established succession and shelves full of three ring binders about what to do, just sorting out if the President is gone or not could severely compromise the chain of command long enough to be a huge issue. I imagine that there's lots of things that are never reported that justify a large portion of the paranoia that feeds into the aircraft's spec.

        With communications what they are now, heads of state should not travel as much. I'm not concerned if a US President winds up feeling trapped in the job by there being a bunch travel restrictions. Lots of people have to make sacrifices to get the job they want.

        1. Blazde Silver badge

          Re: And then there was 2

          In a conflict, knocking the President out would cause a lot of confusion

          Granted, but there isn't any major ongoing conflict where this is likely. The president could be taken out by a small well-armed terror cell, but then the confusion of succession would be manageable(*). And if there were suddenly a major threat they can avoid travel as you say.

          Pretty much no other national leader goes to such lengths to stay alive and when they do die it's overwhelming at home (quite often in their actual home) to domestic terrorists, a coup (albeit sometimes foreign-backed), or some other scenario under the general heading of 'civil war'. Even when it's abroad, all the cases I can find involve domestic motives, and domestic assassins who've used the opportunity of the travel to fix a leader's location (the PM of Jordan in 1971, King of Yugoslavia in 1934, a couple of examples). You might even have to go back to Archduke Ferdinand for a truly interesting foreign case, but even that was within-empire. So the point is, as long as The Proud Boys, and Antifa, and whatever is left of the US Mob don't have access to MANPADS the Air Force One missile defences seem OTT.

          On the other hand if a capable military actually attacked Air Force One with fighters and air-to-air missiles it would go straight down, because it's a hulking great jet, not a nimble fighter or a stealth spy-plane. So even the theoretical threats it protects against are quite narrow. Zelenksy routinely zips around an actual warzone by train when Russia would do almost anything to take him out. Apparently he does this because it's much safer than being in the air. We don't really know the military capabilities of his train or the costs. It's undoubtedly still risky. Trains don't go across oceans well, and the US rail network isn't very good, so it's not really an option for US presidents, but it's an interesting example of matching the method of travel to an actual threat.

          (*) I do wonder if the US president is perceived as less expendable than many world leaders because the process of election only leaves one uncontroversial successor (the VP) before you get to senators elected under a totally different system and then rapidly to appointees. In a Westminster-style system there's an endless supply of MPs elected in the same way the PM was, and it can take a ruling party a few hours to decide on a successor if needed.

          1. PB90210 Silver badge

            Re: And then there was 2

            Big problem at the moment is that the VP takes over!...

            <Shudder>

    2. Evil Auditor Silver badge
      Trollface

      Re: And then there was 2

      Just trolling, but what else could be in Trump Presidential Library? I mean, besides the one book he didn't write nor read and a few T.V. screens for Fox "News"?

      1. Fruit and Nutcase Silver badge
        Trollface

        Re: And then there was 2

        Unsold copies of "The Art Of The Deal"

        1. Evil Auditor Silver badge
          Thumb Up

          Re: And then there was 2

          True! Not just one book but a whole stack of the same book he didn't write nor read - at a premium prize for his minions to buy.

      2. Fr. Ted Crilly Silver badge

        Re: And then there was 2

        See Spot run...

      3. Irongut Silver badge

        Re: And then there was 2

        Upside down bibles.

        1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

          Re: And then there was 2

          Does that have the same meaning as an upside down crucifix?

      4. JWLong Silver badge

        Re: And then there was 2

        A toilet!

        1. Xalran Silver badge

          Re: And then there was 2

          Gold plated.

      5. MachDiamond Silver badge

        Re: And then there was 2

        "Just trolling, but what else could be in Trump Presidential Library?"

        They tend to be the final resting place for de-classified correspondence. Events during their tenure. A complication of media and other historical items. Many also have event space they let out to groups. When I visited the Nixon Library in California, there was a model train event going on which was a lot of fun. Something of a bonus. They aren't libraries in the usual sense of being a large collection of books in a room and more like early museums where collections of things were maintained for scholars to study.

    3. Fruit and Nutcase Silver badge
      Alert

      Re: And then there was 2

      The 2 active VC-25A's are pampered machines and don't have as many hours on them as something in commercial service so they should last much much longer.

      Trump is putting unnecessary takeoff/landing cycles and mileage and maintenance on them by his frequent trips to Florida for weekends spent at the Golf course. Not to mention a quoted $200,000 per hour cost - where's DOGE?

      1. Wellyboot Silver badge

        Re: And then there was 2

        On board as well?

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: And then there was 2

        The Orange One has spent literally one quarter of his presidency playing golf in West Palm Beach. Not only are the Feds racking up expenses (every time he shows up, there are three to five black United States Secret Service SUVs parked in the parking lot of the Palm Beach County Library HQ, which is across the street from the golf course, with four to six guys in each. (I know as the SUVs have in slightly less black letters roughly three feet tall on their sides ‘United States Secret Service’; secret, they’re not.) There is also usually at least one Coast Guard helicopter and one or two Air Force helicopters up. The local National Guard armory is on Gun Club, just north of the golf course; usually there’s at least a company of National Guard mustered in Humvees, complete with .50 M2 machine guns, in the Armory parking lot. There are usually a few FBI and ATF and Border guys roaming around, in unmarked vehicles but with Federal Government license plates, except for the Border guys who are in full-out splendor. And then there’s what Palm Beach County does: the county parks a line of school buses along the fence at Palm Beach International Airport, where the Mango Mussolini lands, to keep those who would be naughty away. The county sheriff’s office has RMPs at the intersections of Summit and Kirk, Summit and Congress, Summit and Davis, Gun Club and Kirk, and more, and has more units in the Library parking lot. (The golf course is on Summit, the nearest major intersections are Kirk and Congress, and the Sheriff’s Office HQ is on Gun Club, opposite the National Guard.) And has a helo up. (The airspace above the golf course is getting crowded.) The State Police have RMPs at Southern and I-95 and roaming down Southern from the airport (PBIA is on Southern) to A-1A (the Great Leader’s Lair is on A-1A). Sometimes there’s a state police helo up, too. The USAF is lifting all the various Fed vehicles in, and that takes multiple large transports (C-17s, usually, sometimes C-5s.) and there are F-15s and F-16s from Homestead in Miami-Dade and Navy F-18s down from Jacksonville. Someone’s paying for all that. Guess who.

        I live a few miles down the road from the Don’s golf course and pass it on a daily basis.

        1. smudge
          WTF?

          Re: And then there was 2

          The Orange One has spent literally one quarter of his presidency playing golf in West Palm Beach.

          And he profits massively from that. I have read - can't remember if it was here or elsewhere - that the security and other staff who travel with him are accommodated in properties owned by him. For which the Trump Org charges the government exorbitant rates.

        2. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

          Re: And then there was 2

          "The USAF is lifting all the various Fed vehicles in, and that takes multiple large transports (C-17s, usually, sometimes C-5s.)"

          Considering he's there for 2-3 days every week, I wonder if it might be cheaper to have a separate team permanently based there rather than moving everything every week, in each direction. They might even get slight;y cheaper rates at Trumps hotel for a long-term block booking. And maybe cut back on the m,any different agencies surrounding him. Maybe just put a ring of National Guard around the area permanently :-)

          1. collinsl Silver badge

            Re: And then there was 2

            Well the problem is that the Trump Organisation won't want to do anything to drive away their regular customer base who will be using the course during the week etc.

            Plus National Guard are supposed to be volunteers so in theory shouldn't be on permanent deployment (yes they get called up for months to go to warzones but that's a bit different).

            Also bear in mind that Congress appropriates the budget for organisations like the US Secret Service and buying many more vehicles probably would have to mean cutbacks elsewhere to accommodate the cost.

    4. anothercynic Silver badge

      Re: And then there was 2

      You'll find that the Qataris will not take kindly to being described as Saudis or vice versa. There is no real love lost between the two tribes.

      1. Antron Argaiv Silver badge
        Thumb Up

        Re: And then there was 2

        ...as is the custom in the deserts of the Middle East.

        Tom Lehrer's "National Brotherhood Week" covers it quite well.

      2. James O'Shea Silver badge

        Re: And then there was 2

        if you look really closely you might be able to detect just how much I care about whether or not one or both sets of murderous savage barbarians get their feeling hurt.

    5. IglooDame

      Re: And then there was 2

      Betcha money Trump thinks that the aircraft being part of his presidential library means he gets to keep using it.

  5. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

    Take out the gold taps, install them in AF1. Tell him it's the new one. Job done.

    Yes Minister fans will be reminded of the puppy from the French President to HMQ.

    1. IGotOut Silver badge

      I wouldn't even go that far.

      Spray everything gold, put red seat covers with MAGA embroidered on them, some leopard print rugs and stick some US flags in with wrong number of stars and stripes and you'll fool the pair of them

      Oh, all the kit has to be made outside the USA so he feels like he's back in one of his own hotels.

    2. Ian Johnston Silver badge

      Give those nymphs some hooters.

  6. chivo243 Silver badge
    Stop

    Wait

    isn't this the kind of spending DoGE* is trying to stop.

    *Dept. of Gut Everything.

    The current president will be out of office before either plan is hatched. Boeing nowhere will not finish the deal to the feds standard, and as stated it will cost mucho dinero to bring the bug** laded gift from Saudis.

    **software or watergate type of bug it's your choice really, they are both present.

    1. Eclectic Man Silver badge

      Re: Wait

      If Boeing is unlikely to finish the refurb of the 'gift' in time, whoever is POTUS after Trump may just cancel it. Who wants a half finished jet in their 'library'?

  7. Fruit and Nutcase Silver badge
    Big Brother

    Drain the swamp

    Hopefully, this will get through to him

    "Donald Trump is all too comfortable brushing aside criticism from Democrats and the “fake news media”, but when the flak over his decision to accept a $400m luxury jet from the Qatari government comes from his most devoted supporters it might behoove the US president to listen."

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/13/trump-qatar-plane-maga-republicans

    icon: listening devices planted throughout the "gift"

    1. HuBo Silver badge
      Alien

      Re: Drain the swamp

      Sure sounds like emoluments all over again, like it's 2017, or 2018, or even 2019, but bigger, and much bolder, in your face morer than everer beforer!

      I mean, couldn't the Qataris have just quietly funneled their $400 million bribe money to Incubus Orange through hotel reservations like they used to, instead of this flashy flying golden dildo lookalike of a phallus inspired present?!?!

      They'll get Vladimir Rectum Putin there all jealous, with his puny little white trash fluorescent velvet portrait offerand that can't nearly compensate against this big throbbing hunk of a masterpiece in aerodynamic jewelry!

      No. Nobody wants to see a sulking Rectum cuddling with a fluffy Panda as a result of this. Nobody! So thank you for returning the Qataris to standard hotel bribery personal enrichment shenanigans, please ...

      And if it's a new luxury aeroplane you want, then be considerate and get one from the Kremlin will you. They have the greatest of standard equipments onboard, and it'll make us all really, really, really quite happierer, imho (plus chihuahuas)!

    2. Triggerfish

      Re: Drain the swamp

      Eh his devoted supporters are people like those on the conservative subreddit and a few posters on here.

      Check their opinions, literally lubing up and working on their gag reflexes as usual.

  8. Fruit and Nutcase Silver badge
    Alert

    Musk/DOGE

    Musk is helping remove ‘constraints’ to speed up Air Force One delivery: Boeing CEO

    https://www.defenseone.com/business/2025/02/musk-helping-remove-constraints-speed-air-force-one-delivery-boeing-ceo/403151/

    1. blu3b3rry

      Re: Musk/DOGE

      Musk - responsible for the cybertruck, which drops to bits due to build quality issues and doesn't meet vehicle regulations for a fair chunk of the world

      Boeing - did all the FAA checks and balances in-house, producing aircraft that either fall out the sky or have bits drop off while in flight

      Put those entities together and the US government will be lucky if the new jets don't shed their wings upon first takeoff.

      Maybe they can save money on a flight crew and fit Tesla autopilot to them?

      1. breakfast Silver badge
        Mushroom

        Re: Musk/DOGE

        In general I am not a fan of Boeing's shoddy engineering or Tesla's equally shoddy engineering, but in this specific case I think we should let them cook. It might even be an opportunity to experiment with some novel forms of corner-cutting.

        Of course, to sufficiently honour the gravitas of the occasion and celebrate this proof of American greatness, it would be important to ensure that the entire cabinet, including Mr Musk, and their most significant donors, are all on board with the President for its virgin flight.

      2. DJV Silver badge

        Re: will be lucky if the new jets don't shed their wings upon first takeoff

        There's a Larson for that!

      3. Antron Argaiv Silver badge

        Re: Musk/DOGE

        Cybertruck seems to have problems even moving in wet/icy/snowy weather. And it's apparently a reliability nightmare as well. Just read an article about one with a "frunk" latch that jammed, which put the vehicle into "limp mode" and required a flatbed to remove it so the latch could be unjammed.

        Teslas are vehicles made by a company that has never made vehicles before. Buyers pay for the privilege of experiencing the learning curve

        1. Red Or Zed

          Re: Musk/DOGE

          But, they have been making vehicles for several years by now.

          Surely, they should have hired at least one person from a semi-competent manufacturer?

    2. Jedit Silver badge
      Thumb Up

      Re: Musk/DOGE

      Turning the refit over to SpaceX for speed and efficiency is an excellent idea.

  9. elsergiovolador Silver badge

    Wrap

    Rumour is that the toilets there have multi stage flush system, where the brown load goes to the drier stage, then gets popped onto conveyor belt where illegal immigrants are wrapping it in gold foil.

    Then it is sorted by size and weight. Goes to packing station and then when plane lands packages get shipped to the UK and are sold in American candy stores.

  10. AVR Silver badge

    Bribes don't need to be capable of fighting wars

    Trump doesn't particularly need or want this aircraft turned into a fortress, the work to do so can be cancelled or indefinitely delayed. Without military changes it'll be easier for him to make off with it in 2029, assuming that he doesn't run for a 3rd term.

    1. Citizen of Nowhere

      Re: Bribes don't need to be capable of fighting wars

      Fairly sure that he has no intention of having to do anything as demeaning as *running* for his third term. I think he expects it handed to him on a plate by slobbering lackeys without any democratic "fluff" involved. The way the US looks from the outside these days, that seems far from unlikely.

  11. johnrobyclayton

    FREE BLING! FREE BLING!! FREE BLING!!!

    $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

    ****************************

    F! R! E! E! B! L! I! N! G!

    ****************************

    $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

  12. sanmigueelbeer Silver badge
    Coat

    "What's sort of annoying about the whole thing is I'm not sure what's wrong with the current Air Force One"

    There was a joke, "The most environmentally-friendly luxury car is the one sitting in the garage to impress the neighbours."

    There is really nothing wrong with the current Air Force One but Donald just want to make sure HIS future is "padded". To "impress his neighbours" (executives who fly around in tiny private planes), he can say "that's not a private plane. THIS is a private plane (& fit for a king)!"

    I mean, he does not have to pay for anything: Fuel, maintenance and upkeep of the plane is going to be paid by hardworking, low- to middle-income American taxpayers.

    (High income & wealthy Americans are not taxpayers because they rarely pay taxes.)

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      "There is really nothing wrong with the current Air Force One"

      Except the fact its based on a 747-200 which very few other operators still fly, the airframes are nearly 40 years old, the engines are a 1970's design and is costing the US taxpayer a huge amount of money in maintenance to keep the old bucket of bolts flying.

      The sad fact is it took some 4 years for the original 747 conversions to go into service and its now been 9 years since the kickoff of the B model and they are still some 3 years away. Worth noting that the replacement project was kicked off under Obama. That is how late it is.

      On the plus side Trump now has a nice new Trump Force 1 and he can retire his aging 757.

      1. that one in the corner Silver badge

        > it took some 4 years for the original 747 conversions to go into service and its now been 9 years since the kickoff of the B model and they are still some 3 years away.

        Over the last 30 years, how many upgrades and rework has been done on top of the 4 years' of initial conversion? In that time span, those two could well be the Aircraft of Theseus (or Trigger's Jumbo for the more classically educated).

        Not that it would excuse the tripling of the time on the replacements, not being a simple repeat job. Especially now Young Jim can't crawl into the ducts like he used to, not with his hip.

      2. Wellyboot Silver badge

        The VC25 is based on a 747-200 in the same way NASCAR racers are based on normal road cars - they only look similar.

        Even if they were stock 747-200 models they've probably only done a small percentage value of the airframes designed flight cycles, taking over a decade building the replacements just shows how diabolically bad Boeing has become at doing bespoke work in house.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Very poor analogy.

          The VC25A is still a 747-200 fuselage with 747-200 wings and engines that would have been fitted to a similar era 747.

          It does not have stock 747-200 avionics or interior and has a modified fuel system with inert gas and refuelling.

          At the core is a stock 747-200.

          A NASCAR is a composite lookalike shell on a spaceframe chassis with an engine and gearbox that has no resemblance to the road car it is supposed to be. Heck the headlights are stickers!

      3. Don Jefe

        I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Boeing isn’t the primary problem here.

        In a show of his business acumen, Trump strong armed Boeing into a vastly reduced value contract for the planes. Since the new contract was written in Sharpie on McDonalds wrappers at night in the Oval Office it bypassed normal controls on contracting. It’s a defense contractor’s dream because it’s open ended with an essentially unlimited cost ceiling, poorly specced, and mostly nonsense so Boeing has been able to use all the other contracting rules to milk the project without having to deliver anything except exactly what Trump demanded in the contract. Which is nothing. It’s just free money for Boeing.

        1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

          The original delay was that the previous-previous administration also demanded that the 'remodelling' met regular FDA civil specs - which meant that almost every component that was a "military" aviation certified part had to be removed and replaced, with a probably identical, "civil" aviation part

          Incidentally it's why "civil" C130s are incredibly rare and valuable while perfectly airworthy "military" C130s sit in bone-yards worth less than their scrap value

          1. MachDiamond Silver badge

            "Incidentally it's why "civil" C130s are incredibly rare and valuable while perfectly airworthy "military" C130s sit in bone-yards worth less than their scrap value"

            yes, privately owned military aircraft are classified as "experimental". That limits how they can be used. Since they don't go through a civilian type-certification, they can't get a commercial registration. One could go through the process, but the cost is so high that it's not worth it. The component parts would also need to be certified which adds even more cost unless they can be swapped for commercially rated parts which are often exactly the same except for the paperwork.

  13. the Jim bloke
    Mushroom

    Whats the worst that could happen?

    ..He could continue to 'rule' uninterrupted for his full term, bugger the constitution for more terms, and establish a dynasty, and end the democracy of the United states..

    but on a brighter note, maybe the new plane will fall out of the sky as he commutes between golf courses, and his cabinet of sycophants will collapse in disarray as they turn on each other like rats in a sack.

    I mean, Trump is mates with Vladimir Putin, and thats an air safety risk right there.

    1. Always Right Mostly

      Re: Whats the worst that could happen?

      I thin you meant to say "Trump mates with Putin".

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Whats the worst that could happen?

        "Trump blowjobs Putin"

        FTFY

        not sure a blow job is counted as mating?

  14. Adair Silver badge

    A classic

    ... bit of diplomatic shafting.

    Let's see what kind of an idiot stiff we've got here, by offering him a humongous white elephant that his ego won't be able to refuse.

    It's the 'white elephant' bit that makes them smile. They've off loaded a financial black hole onto someone else, and the sucker has welcomed it with open arms.

  15. PhilipN Silver badge

    "raising legal and ethical questions"

    Well ... no s.., S.....

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: "raising legal and ethical questions"

      I don't believe The Donald has ever asked or answered any questions of that type.

      1. collinsl Silver badge

        Re: "raising legal and ethical questions"

        Except with the word "fifth", meaning he pleads the fifth amendment against self-incrimination.

  16. PhilipN Silver badge

    "new embassy"

    When the US Consulate in Hong Kong was rebuilt there was not a single local labourer on site - or in sight.

  17. David Newall

    Fake news!

    Just like you didn't need the vaccines, because bleach would do, same with the plane. I don't know why, but he'll explain and it will be the securestest plane and President has ever flown.

  18. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    One suspect Trump is likely more concerned with the amount of gold leaf applied to the royal shitter in the 'gifted' (grifted?) jet than hardening against

    EMP. Also he was planning on keeping the jet after. I keep expecting hime to do a Mel Brooks and turn to the camera and smugly say "It's good to be the king".

  19. codejunky Silver badge
    Black Helicopters

    Hmm

    Sounds like a lot of work to get it ready for the President. But since Boeing doesnt seem close to replacing the ageing existing air force one and two it might make sense to get this up and running and hand it to the next President if Boeing are still behind.

    It must be nice for the US to have a President being respected on the world stage again.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Hmm

      > It must be nice for the US to have a President being respected on the world stage again

      It WOULD be nice for the US to have a President being respected on the world stage again

      1. This post has been deleted by its author

      2. SVD_NL Silver badge

        Re: Hmm

        This definitely isn't improving my level of respect for him... The US is probably the only non-authoritarian state that allows bribery in broad daylight. (non-authoritarian is up for debate, but they have somewhat decent elections at least)

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          non-authoritarian state

          are you sure about that?

      3. alisonken1
        Alert

        Re: Hmm

        "

        It WOULD be nice for the US to have a President worth being respected on the world stage again."

        FTFY

        1. Antron Argaiv Silver badge
          Thumb Up

          Re: Hmm

          Heck, I'd settle for a President worth being respected on the DOMESTIC stage again.

          ...baby steps...

    2. Triggerfish

      Re: Hmm

      Did you miss the part where it's being transfered into the presidential library? At taxpayers cost of course.

      So not much point or sense at all in spending so much to get it running.

      It would be nice to have a us president worthy of respect, only about four more years to go and well see

      1. codejunky Silver badge

        Re: Hmm

        @Triggerfish

        "Did you miss the part where it's being transfered into the presidential library? At taxpayers cost of course."

        The refurb might be tax payer cost but I doubt it would go to the presidential library in that case, And isnt the presidential library mostly private funded or do I have that wrong?

        "So not much point or sense at all in spending so much to get it running."

        I am hoping he would pass it on to the next President if Boeing still havnt built their planes.

        "It would be nice to have a us president worthy of respect, only about four more years to go and well see"

        It amazes me that after the previous President/administration people would complain about this one. I laugh when people now complain about his first administration after seeing Bidens.

        1. ChodeMonkey Silver badge
          Gimp

          Re: Hmm

          Clearly the Qatari aircraft is more befitting of President Trump. A designer interior with everything The President could want. It even has built in Golden Showers.

        2. cmdrklarg
          FAIL

          Re: Hmm

          ***** It amazes me that after the previous President/administration people would complain about this one. I laugh when people now complain about his first administration after seeing Bidens.

          Imagine the histrionics from the RWNJ infosphere had Biden done anything remotely similar.

          1. codejunky Silver badge
            Facepalm

            Re: Hmm

            @cmdrklarg

            "Imagine the histrionics from the RWNJ infosphere had Biden done anything remotely similar."

            You mean the guy who was seriously mentally debilitated that was propped up as a puppet President? A man with scandal after scandal that had less attention than Trump walking across a street to a church? Someone also known as 'the big guy' who interfered in Ukraines legal system to protect his son which the dems then tried to impeach Trump for trying to put it right? A guy who violated the law on taking classified documents but was too mentally incapable to be charged unlike Trump?

            You have to have your eyes seriously shut to pretend Bidens gov didnt do much worse and Biden wasnt even capable. Even now the media are trying to play stupid that they were hoodwinked, Harris still wont admit she knew when she was meeting him regularly, and staffers are in various degrees of denial or admitting a problem. Amusingly in an upcoming book (pretending they didnt already know) Biden didnt even recognise Clooney at the fundraiser. Yet President autopen who didnt even know what orders he was signing got his family protected from the law? His criminal son sitting in on high level meetings.

            But remember, nobody knew about his condition.

        3. DS999 Silver badge

          Re: Hmm

          Even if your worst delusions about Hunter Biden getting paid a few million dollars was done as a bribe to Joe Biden, there are BILLIONS in bribes going Trump's way. This plane is just the small stuff, look at the stuff about buying his cryptocrap. $2 billion in a single transaction!

          If Biden was on the take as you claim he's a rank amateur compared to Trump. But you're willing to overlook it all because "both sides", right? That's the real reason Trump was calling out Hunter Biden. He didn't give a shit about any of it, he just wanted an excuse for the MAGA brainwashed faithful to look the other way when he grifted on an industrial scale.

          1. codejunky Silver badge

            Re: Hmm

            @DS999

            "Even if your worst delusions about Hunter Biden getting paid a few million dollars was done as a bribe to Joe Biden"

            A few million when? Biden was Vice President when he stepped in to protect Hunters business interests in Ukraine. The pre-emptive pardon covers that far back too! The pardon which was only needed because the unprecedented 'plea deal' offered to Hunter was thrown out by a judge for being so obscene. Admit to one little thing and EVERY OTHER CRIME will not be prosecuted whatever it is.

            "there are BILLIONS in bribes going Trump's way. This plane is just the small stuff, look at the stuff about buying his cryptocrap. $2 billion in a single transaction!"

            I am guessing neither Trump nor his family paint. And we can agree its cryptocrap for anyone who wants to buy such rubbish. But are these bribes to Trump and for what? We know Hunter was selling access to his father and Biden influenced other countries such as Ukraine. Maybe it is a bribe to Trump but for what? By who?

            "But you're willing to overlook it all because "both sides", right?"

            No. I dont actually overlook them, there are receipts when it comes to the Bidens. A lot of complaints against Trump are speculation. I never even heard of Trumps crypto getting a $2 billion transaction and more fool them (crypto is entirely confidence based value) I will probably look for news later if I have time. What gets me is how willingly people overlooked other presidents doing things but if Trump is just accused of anything its a big deal. Trump even had an actual conspiracy against him by the federal security services and people overlook it or worse keep repeating the lies! So who is overlooking what?

            "That's the real reason Trump was calling out Hunter Biden"

            Nothing to do with an actual criminal (convicted of actual crime) who was protected by the federal security services (laptop) and pardoned back to when Joe was VP and interfering in Ukraine? You want to overlook that? Selling access to his father for what looks like potentially favours with 10% for the big guy? Who was caught for tax evasion and numerous claims that security services got in the way of the investigation meaning Hunter probably got away with years more tax evasion (statute of limitations). Are you still overlooking? A drug addict who sat in on the top level Presidential meetings because his dad was not fit enough to be President? Still not looking?

            And I bet your itch is to respond 'but Trump'. And that is why it is a problem that after 4 years of people being expected to close their eyes and cover their ears that now every speculation against the devil must be assumed as a fact against Trump. 4 years of overlooking and gas lighting voted Trump in for a second term with a practically red map. Is the whole of America suddenly MAGA? Or are they sick of the bullshit?

        4. MachDiamond Silver badge

          Re: Hmm

          "And isnt the presidential library mostly private funded or do I have that wrong?"

          Yes, funding is private except for a few small things. It's also a not-for-profit enterprise so doesn't pay taxes.

    3. This post has been deleted by its author

    4. Potemkine! Silver badge
      Mushroom

      Re: Hmm

      It must be nice for the US to have a President being respected on the world stage again.

      Maybe the next one, because the current one is considered as a clown, a threat, a traitor, a crook or an insane arsehole. At best.

      Putin Khuylo is different, he considers rightly the Orange Agent as a puppet.

      1. codejunky Silver badge

        Re: Hmm

        @Potemkine!

        "Maybe the next one, because the current one is considered as a clown, a threat, a traitor, a crook or an insane arsehole. At best."

        Of course except for-

        > both Putin and Zelenskyy who completely changed their anti-diplomatic stance to willing to talk.

        > Europe who are desperate to keep the Ukraine war going but need the US to backstop any plan.

        > Israel/Hamas. Another hostage was released (held since October 2023!).

        > Saudi's, which is being compared to when Biden went and was apparently humiliated?

        > Qatar, as per the article.

        > Starmer who has tuned from anti-Trump to grovelling.

        > The rest of the freaking world.

        Woman screaming no to the sky... probably not. But I doubt he will lose sleep over that.

        1. Casca Silver badge

          Re: Hmm

          Keep on sucking up to trump. For one who denied defending trump you really are going for it.

          For a reminder because your memory seems to be lacking in every regard.

          @Casca

          "Yes, we now your not a "fan" of elon and trump. Yet you defend them in every article..."

          Thats a complete lie so well done.

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Hmm

          Im no fan of the orange one but in fairness there is a valid point here. His incessant nut job and childish style of politics is actually having an impact.

          However bringing the world to the brink of destruction is not quite an accepted way of achieving what is required.

  20. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Take him at his word..

    ... and make him fly exclusively in this completely unsecure vehicle for all journeys from now on.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Take him at his word..

      This - What exactly is the benefit of keeping Trump and his sycophants safe from attack?

      Does J.D. Vance fly on a different plane?

      Asking for a friend.

      1. codejunky Silver badge

        Re: Take him at his word..

        @AC

        "Does J.D. Vance fly on a different plane?"

        I think so. I recall Vance going checking out the VP plane when Harris was doing her best to avoid reporters. He wanted to look at what he would be travelling in when Trump won

        1. ThomH Silver badge

          Re: Take him at his word..

          For reference, codejunky is referring to this incident (via the Associated Press, a reasonably neutral source).

        2. MachDiamond Silver badge

          Re: Take him at his word..

          The US President and Vice President never travel together. There are also protocols in place for others in the line of succession not traveling together either. Big corporations will have top level executives traveling via different means and on different dates in some cases. The fallout from a common disaster would be huge.

          "The order of U.S. presidential succession is as follows: Vice President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and then the Cabinet members in the order their departments were created."

          I recall some documentary where it was told how travel for the above is managed. I don't think it would be an issue for the 8th and 9th people down the line to travel together, but the VP and Speaker of the house would not.

  21. fpx
    Devil

    I'm sure the NSA still has the blueprints where all the bugs were installed before the aircraft's delivery to Qatar.

  22. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

    Highly secure internal phone system

    Will be replaced by one that scrolls his signal messages on a billboard running the length of the fuselage

  23. Steve Davies 3 Silver badge

    If the USAF had any sense...

    They'd get the plane, paint it grey and let it rot in the Arizona Desert alongside a get thousand other aircraft. Park it, take the engines off and gut the interior.

    Chump will never think to look there. As long as there is no gold inside, he will be blind.

    Failing that, I'm sure a wayward missile from an F-35 would save the taxpayers a lot of $$$$. Doge? Where are you when you are needed?

  24. smudge
    Mushroom

    "...presidential security standards could take years..."

    Trump and his acolytes don't believe in security standards.

    So don't bother doing anything to the plane.

    Saves a lot of unnecessary government expenditure.

    And isn't that what Trump and Musk are trying to do?

  25. Ian Johnston Silver badge

    Could we not crowd fund a 737 Max for him? I'm good for a tenner towards that.

  26. Marty McFly Silver badge
    Go

    Boeing birds

    The 747 is the 'Queen of the Skies' and is a majestic airplane by all accounts.

    The 757, however, is the hot rod of commercial aircraft. They are well known by airline pilots to be sporty & over-powered, especially when lightly loaded. And Trump's 757, while decades old, is relatively new based on its flight cycles. My thoughts are to keep the sports car.

    1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

      Re: Boeing birds

      Bragging rights - but we know who has the best presidential plane

      1. MachDiamond Silver badge

        Re: Boeing birds

        "Bragging rights - but we know who has the best presidential plane"

        I'm sure the charter company was more than happy to take the money to do the paint job. Awesome advertising for the band since the news will be sure to get photos when it's in town.

  27. martinusher Silver badge

    Honestly, does it really matter?

    The last word I'd use to describe this administration is 'secure' and, anyway, anyone eavesdropping on this President is more likely to get disinformation than information. So, just indulge him.

    One of the strengths of the US political system is it doesn't depend on individuals. Wiping out the President or even large chunks of the Federal government would be a personal tragedy for those involved, and potentially a national tragedy but it won't affect the functioning of the country one bit. (Cynics might say it may even improve it.)

  28. DS999 Silver badge

    I saw let him have it

    But zero modifications at taxpayer expense. He can have it as is. i.e. without any air defenses.

    Then we can hope next time he decides to visit war criminal Netayahu the Houthis get lucky with a pot shot and he crashes and burns in the wreckage of Gaza right where he was dreaming about putting up a Trump hotel.

  29. Zebo-the-Fat

    Why would anyone need an aircraft in a library?

    1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

      High shelfs?

  30. Citizen of Nowhere

    >All this work isn't going to be cheap or easy.

    You don't really think that America under Trump is actually going to do *any* of that work? That would be somewhat naive.

  31. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Cessna 172

    New paint job.

    Room for a pilot, one hostess and one extra large passenger.

    Smaller target.

  32. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    I thin you just need to reset the level

    "capable of allowing the president to run the country, survive wartime conditions (even nuclear), and be totally secure from outside influence or intrusion."

    I don't believe that Mr Trump is capable of running the country, surviving a steep set of stairs or being free from outside influence regardless of location, so why not just giving him a "Palace in the Sky" as advertised where he can sit on a gold plated toilet with his gold plated mobile phone running X and share his emissions with those below?

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