Donald Trump accepted a jumbo red, white and blue jet from Qatar that will soon enter service as Air Force One, raising concerns about potential conflicts between his personal interests and official responsibilities.
In a speech from Joint Base Andrews, Trump said on Friday that foreign leaders had better and newer planes and it was “a little ridiculous” that the US president would fly in a plane a few decades old.
Trump touted details like the “wavy beautiful flag” embossed on the plane’s vertical stabiliser, rather than the traditional “straight” flag. He thanked the “fantastic” Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and said his friend Elon Musk would be happy to hear the new Air Force One would be equipped with Starlink.