President Donald Trump departed for North Dakota on Wednesday aboard a newly refurbished Boeing 747-8 that was gifted to the United States by Qatar, marking the first time a sitting president has used the aircraft as Air Force One. The flight signals a temporary upgrade to the presidential fleet as the White House awaits delivery of two new Boeing jets not expected until 2028.
Trump is scheduled to visit the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, a $450 million project that opens to the public on July 4. The president will tour the 96,000-square-foot facility and deliver remarks as part of a broader celebration of the nation's 250th birthday. The trip also includes a stop at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota on Friday before Trump returns to Washington for Independence Day events.
The visit came at the request of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the former North Dakota governor, who has been a key ally in the administration. The library, located in the rugged Badlands, honors the legacy of the 26th president, a figure Trump has often praised for his strong leadership and conservation efforts.
The new Air Force One jet features a distinctive red, white, navy blue, and gold paint scheme personally selected by Trump. The presidential seal is displayed on the left side of the aircraft, and an American flag adorns the tail. Trump has called the plane "very unique" and described it as "the world's most luxurious plane," adding, "When it was built, it was built at a level that will probably never be seen again."
The aircraft, a refurbished Boeing 747-8, is intended as a "bridge" between the aging Boeing 747-200 models currently in service and two new Boeing jets that are still under development. The new planes are not expected to be ready for presidential travel until 2028, leaving the Qatari-gifted jet as a stopgap measure.
Trump has confirmed he will use the new jet for upcoming international travel, including the NATO summit in Turkey next month and "at some point" on another trip to China. The deployment of the aircraft comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the administration's travel expenses and the president's relationship with Gulf states.
The North Dakota trip also comes as the political landscape shifts, with recent primaries in Colorado shaking up the GOP. Trump has been active in endorsing candidates, though his influence has faced tests in some races. The president's focus on the library visit and July 4 celebrations underscores his emphasis on patriotic themes ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Critics have questioned the optics of using a jet gifted by a foreign government, particularly as the White House faces ongoing debates over defense spending and foreign influence. The administration has defended the arrangement as a practical solution to modernize the aging Air Force One fleet without additional taxpayer cost.
The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, which spans 96,000 square feet, is set to become a major tourist attraction in the region, expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. The project has received bipartisan support, though some local officials have raised concerns about its cost and long-term economic impact.
