The U.S. Air Force is aiming for a Fourth of July delivery of a Qatari-supplied Boeing 747 that will join the Air Force One fleet in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary, a U.S. official and a person familiar with the plan said.
The White House accepted the luxury jet from Qatar in 2025 and wanted the Air Force to quickly upgrade the plane to presidential standards, while L3Harris was tapped to make the modifications.
If the company meets its deadline, US President Donald Trump will have a new presidential jet in time for national celebrations.
The person said there was an effort to deliver the plane three weeks early to coincide with Trump’s birthday on June 14, ahead of the July 4 deadline.
The Qatari gift has drawn criticism from Democrats and good government advocates, who have warned it is a conflict of interest that could influence presidential decisions.
Trump has dismissed complaints to accept the 13-year-old plane with a list price of US$400 million, saying it would be “ridiculous” to turn down the offer.
