Trump's Qatar-gifted Air Force One raises security concerns

A Boeing 747-8 gifted by the Qatari royal family to Donald Trump is being converted into a new VC-25B presidential aircraft, funded by siphoning money from the US ballistic-missile modernization program. The plane's iconic livery, originally designed by Raymond Loewy and John F. Kennedy, was replaced with a blue-heavy design the Air Force warned could cause thermal issues. Contractor L3Harris rushed the overhaul at "maximum velocity," completing it in 10 months despite a 747-200B having 5-6 million parts. Security experts note the new plane lacks midair refueling capability, has only one set of air stairs, and may not be hardened against missiles or electromagnetic pulses from nuclear blasts. During a recent Nato Summit in Ankara, Trump switched to a legacy Air Force One at the Secret Service's behest, raising further questions about the plane's fitness. National security historian Garrett Graff described the mid-trip switch as "suspicious." The plane is ultimately destined for Trump's yet-to-be-built presidential library.