The Boeing luxury jet donated by Qatar, recently used for presidential travel, is under scrutiny regarding its defensive capabilities. Criticism revolves around whether it can sufficiently protect President Trump and others aboard.

On July 19, 2026, at 11:03 p.m. ET, President Trump addressed the media after returning from New Jersey to Washington on this jet—a Boeing 747-800. He mentioned plans for upgrades, suggesting that it would soon be “maxed out” to meet the standards of older presidential travel jets. According to Mr. Trump, these upgrades would enhance the plane’s defensive capabilities.

While aboard the jet with a small group of reporters, a correspondent questioned the absence of anti-missile systems. Mr. Trump replied, “Well, it has a lot of capabilities, and as I understand it, in about a month, they’ll send it to have it be maxed out.” Details on specifics or whether this timeframe was feasible remain unclear.

The lack of clarity on upcoming security improvements suggests the aircraft may not currently match standards of jets purpose-built for Air Force One duty. A White House spokesperson did not immediately offer further clarification on Mr. Trump’s statements regarding “maxing out” the jet.