US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his new retrofitted Boeing 747-8, gifted by Qatar, will be sent off for a month to be'maxed out' following security concerns during a recent trip to Turkey. Trump took his first flight on the plane on July 1, but used an older jet for his return from a NATO meeting in Ankara on July 10.
Security Concerns Raised
The New York Times reported that the new plane lacked certain security countermeasures, including anti-missile defenses. Following these reports, Trump administration subpoenaed the newspaper's reporters.
Upgrades Planned
Trump told reporters that the plane will be sent for upgrades in about a month to enhance its defensive capabilities. He did not provide specific details about the nature of these upgrades.
Background and Criticism
Qatar's royal family donated the luxury airliner last year after Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the aging jets that have served as the US presidential plane since 1990. The aircraft features a new Trump-designed livery. Critics have raised ethical, constitutional, and security concerns about the gifting of such an expensive aircraft by a foreign power.