politics
President Departs on First Flight of New Air Force One Gifted by Qatar
The president left Joint Base Andrews on July 1 aboard a retrofitted Boeing 747-8 presented by the Qatari royal family. The aircraft, valued between $200 million and $400 million, has drawn questions about foreign-government influence.
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The president departed Maryland’s Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, July 1, aboard a new Air Force One that was presented as a gift from Qatar. The aircraft is a retrofitted Boeing 747-8. Video released by outlets shows the president boarding for the plane’s first official flight.
Post by @MarketWatch on X
MarketWatch reported the plane is worth approximately $400 million. The New York Times placed the value at $200 million from the Qatari royal family. The Boeing 747-8 arrived after undergoing modifications to serve as the presidential aircraft.
The New York Times noted the gift has prompted questions about whether a foreign government sought to influence the president. No official statements from the White House or Qatari representatives appear in the provided coverage. MarketWatch described the departure as the inaugural flight on the new aircraft.
