US President Donald Trump flew for the first time on Wednesday aboard a retrofitted Boeing 747 that he accepted as a gift from Qatar.
The luxury aircraft, reported to be worth about $400 million, officially joined the Air Force One fleet last month. It had to undergo extensive modifications at US taxpayers' expense, including security upgrades, before being cleared for use.
Trump used it to fly to North Dakota to visit the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Trump accepted the jet in May 2025 despite fierce criticism. The extraordinary gift from a foreign ally raised legal and ethical concerns, with Democrats denouncing it as "blatant corruption."
Before departure, Trump said Americans should take pride in the aircraft.
"To be honest with you, I'm excited about the first flight," he told reporters. "You can low-key it or you can show it. And I think the country should be very proud of it. And it's beautiful."
Asked how much the modifications had cost US taxpayers, Trump said the amount was minimal compared with the expense of acquiring a comparable aircraft through other means.
The converted Qatari jet was repainted in red, white and dark blue - a departure from the powder blue and white colour scheme that has been used for decades on Air Force One planes.
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