Trump makes first official flight on new “Air Force One”, images from inside the giant aircraft emerge

Donald Trump made his first official trip aboard the new presidential Air Force One, a Boeing 747 worth about $400 million that was gifted to the United States by Qatar’s royal family.

Its first use came during Trump’s visit to North Dakota, where the president took part in the inauguration ceremony of a museum dedicated to former US President Theodore Roosevelt.

Images released by White House staff show the aircraft’s luxurious spaces, described as a “flying palace.” Inside are modern offices, a meeting room, a library, fully reclining seats, a massage function, and individual entertainment systems for each passenger.

Since the moment the gift was made public, the aircraft has been surrounded by controversy. Democratic lawmakers have expressed reservations over security and ethical aspects, while estimating that adapting it to Air Force One standards could cost more than $1 billion.

Trump has rejected these criticisms, describing the plane as “the best ever built” and defending the position that accepting it brings savings for American taxpayers compared with building a new aircraft from scratch.

According to US authorities, before entering service, the aircraft was equipped with all the necessary security systems. It is also expected to be used for the president’s future trips, including the NATO summit in Turkey and the visit to China in November.