President Donald Trump made his inaugural flight aboard the United States’ new presidential aircraft, Air Force One, taking the luxurious Boeing 747 — gifted to the U.S. by the Qatari royal family — on its maiden voyage. The aircraft, valued at approximately $400 million, carried the American president to North Dakota, where he attended the opening of a museum dedicated to former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. The new presidential plane had already sparked intense political controversy from the moment Qatar’s transfer of the aircraft was announced, with Democratic lawmakers raising concerns over both security and ethical issues.
First look inside the Boeing 747
Members of Trump’s entourage shared photos on social media from inside the aircraft, which has frequently been described as a “flying palace.”
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Among those aboard the inaugural flight were the president’s sons, Eric and Donald Trump Jr., along with their wives, Bettina and Lara. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung posted photos revealing a lavish office space, a large conference room, and bookshelves lined with leather-bound volumes.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the first flight “a truly unforgettable day” and shared a series of photos and videos on Instagram.
President Trump made his first flight aboard the new Air Force One on Wednesday, traveling to North Dakota for a Freedom250 train ride and to visit the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library ahead of its opening during the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
Trump unveiled… pic.twitter.com/grzUyteKkp
— Mosheh Oinounou (@Mosheh) July 2, 2026
One of the photos revealed the in-flight meal served to passengers on white china with gold detailing. The menu featured ham and Swiss cheese croissants alongside fresh seasonal fruit.
“It’s the finest passenger aircraft ever built”
The aircraft’s interior is decorated in shades of brown, beige, and cream, with beige carpeting and understated decor, while gold accents on the lighting fixtures reflect Donald Trump’s well-known aesthetic preferences.
The new seats are larger than those on the previous Air Force One, recline fully, feature massage functions, and include built-in chargers for electronic devices. Each passenger has their own personal entertainment screen, with content options ranging from cable news networks to Apple TV. The seatbelts bear the U.S. presidential seal, and even the Air Force personnel insignia are larger and also carry the presidential seal.
The aircraft is approximately six meters longer than the previous Air Force One, with a wingspan nearly nine meters wider. Its exterior color scheme — featuring shades of blue, red, gold, and white — was personally selected by Trump himself. “It’s the finest passenger aircraft ever built,” an visibly enthusiastic Trump told reporters shortly before takeoff. “You can either keep it understated or make it stand out. And I think the country should be proud of it. It’s truly beautiful,” he added.
The first look at the new Air Force One VC-25B aircraft at Joint Base Andrews.
📹: reaganreese pic.twitter.com/u6gMsvE2Tc— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) June 19, 2026
The small details of the first flight
The inaugural flight also revealed several small details that made clear the aircraft had only just entered service. Headphones were still in their original packaging, blankets remained sealed in plastic wrap, and passengers were politely encouraged to keep the new plane clean. The iconic presidential M&M’s, packaged in special boxes bearing Donald Trump’s signature, remained on the menu, while passengers also received white chocolate gift boxes decorated with the presidential seal and tied with a red ribbon.
For security and privacy reasons, a curtain separated the press area from the rest of the aircraft, ensuring that staff and Secret Service agents were not constantly in view of the media.
The controversy over Qatar’s “gift”
The Boeing 747 was
