EGO FIRST, SECURITY LAST
TRUMP FLAUNTS HIS DEATH WISH DURING A WAR HE CREATED,
Proof, as if we needed it, that Donald Trump is not a careful person came this week packaged as a big airplane. Trump is so addicted to getting whatever he wants when he wants it, that he is forcing the US Air Force to ignore safety standards and rules put in place over the last 50 years for airplanes used to fly the president.
The Secret Service made that obvious: it forced Trump to use the 747 backup AF1 plane to fly from Turkey to England. Adults in government realized that the gift Qatari 747-8 he used to get to the NATO meeting in Ankara, Turkey was perhaps unsuited for an area dangerously close to Iran duting wartime.
The White House is furious that a New York Times story pointed out that defensive weapons systems used against a missile attack were not installed on the plane, nor was a refueling system to enable it to stay aloft in an emergency. Just some of the things that are unfinished.
So the new 747-8 flew empty to RAF Mildnhall Air Base in England and waited for Trump to arrive from Turkey on the certifiably defensive minded 747’s that have flown presidents for decades.
Then he flew home in the new plane now painted to look like his aged campaign plane. Just bigger and shinier except with the words “United States” emblazoned on the upper fuselage.
The plane was “donated” by the Emir of Qatar, at which time experts described the numerous systems that it did not have and would cost between $400 million or more dollars to properly install. The time table estimates were between two and four years do do it properly as it is all custom work involving disassembly and rebuilding.
TIMETABLE ISSUES
The Qatari plane arrived in the USA, accepted by the US Air Force in May 2025. Obviously some modifications have been made, using it for its first domestic trip13 months later. Obviously it had a paint job to Trump’s personal taste, all; the necessary presidential seals and interior quick fixes were accomplished. Air Force pilots trained on flight simulators and used two 747-8 planes purchased for training at $400 million. Communications gear changes must have been acomplished, but again this is not like swapping radios in a car.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accepted the luxury jet ignoring the emoluments cause of the Constitution forbidding foreign gifts to US leaders. Aviation experts immediately raised issues about safety and cyber security, but Trump ,who never worries about spending government money ,claimed it would save tax dollars.
Air Force One is not just any aircraft; it is actually many things at once.
It is a flying office, command center, medical bay, and a symbol of US power. The plane must always be ready for emergencies, be capable of refueling while aloft, and has advanced military grade communications systems to stay in contact with US military leaders and international leaders anywhere on the globe.
These are not “off the shelf” systems like what one might buy to change an automobile’s performance. Installation difficulty comes in a plane which already has a full interior to first be dismantled. There is an issue which the newspaper did not disclose which is public knowledge: the plane’s used by the president have a fuselage with a second exterior skin designed to make it impervious to radiation and electronic snooping.
Any plane carrying the president is labeled AF-1. But the specific presidential planes need the capability to refuel while aloft, stay in touch with leaders around the globe, even during the worst crises. This requires the highest levels of redundancy, security and advanced communication systems.
It is absurd that the the Trump regime wants to know how journalists learned that multiple levels of security were skipped to satisfy Trump’s ego. Just google the planes and learn that “Converting” Qatar’s Boeing 747-8 to Air Force One specifications could cost $400–$750 million and take at least two years, probably more because:
A complete security overhaul includes the airframe for any “unexpected” technology.
All communications and navigation hardware is replaced.
Anti-surveillance tools are installed throughout the aircraft structure.
Defense Upgrades
include fitting missile warning systems, laser defense, flare/chaff release, and radar-jamming equipment.
Plus adding EMP protection for any burst of electromagnetic radiation created by a nuclear explosion. The resulting rapidly varying electric and magnetic fields may couple with electrical and electronic systems to produce damaging current and voltage surges. The specific characteristics of a particular nuclear EMP event vary according to a number of factors.
the most important of which is the altitude of the detonation.This involves encasing wiring and power systems in special shielding.
Communications Technology includes Installing satellite phones, encrypted radio links, and other tools for secure talks. Making sure these devices work all over the world and can’t be jammed or intercepted.
Power systems and redundancy are a priority so there is no single point of failure.
Medical Facilities include an advanced medical bay for emergencies, making sure medical gear is fully secure from outside access
Living and Working Spaces for private meetings, secure briefings, and comfortable stays.
Every step requires unique parts, careful handling, and repeated checks. With so many sensitive details and safety standards involved, each change brings extra layers of work and paperwork.
Only technicians with security clearances can work on these planes, including testing every single new system to guarantee it works under extreme conditions. This is not cheap work—most parts, such as security panels and EMP shields, are custom-built and installed.
Considering the plan to eliminate a the small but complete hospital bay on this plane seems stupid with an 80 year old president clearly not in the best of health. The plan to have less kitchen and food storage based on using it for short domestic flights seems equally short-sighted.
So, while President Trump talk about a “gift” may sound appealing, it is actually a multi-billon dollar grift which he expects to take home when his term is over. The per hour cost to crew it, fly it and maintain it is beyond his low cut cheap approach to things. It is difficult tp pin down exact costs but operating a presidential jet plane runs to $200,000 an hour , which includes fuel, consumables, engine and plane maintenance costs and the salaries of the flight crew.. That is per hour., so a round trip Washington Los Angeles is easily $2,000,000. Those weekend presidential fights to a golf course can be $600,000 round trip.
The reason the two previously ordered new 747’s for the government are behind schedule is complicated by the requirement for workers with security clearances creating a personnel problem.A fixed cost deal means Boeing is not willing to lose a lot of money on this rush job concept. There are supply chain bottlenecks, amplified by all the special requirements described above.
Without question, Trump will prove to be the most expensive US President in history figured for costs, impact on Constitutional Government, and changing the reputation of the United States in Proof, as if we needed it, that Donald Trump is not a careful person came this week packaged as a big airplane. Trump is so addicted to getting whatever he wants when he wants it, that he is forcing the US Air Force to ignore safety standards and rules put in place over the last 50 years for airplanes used to fly the president.
The Secret Service made that obvious: it forced Trump to use the 747 backup AF1 plane to fly from Turkey to England. Adults in government realized that the gift Qatari 747-8 he used to get to the NATO meeting in Ankara, Turkey was perhaps unsuited for an area dangerously close to Iran.
The White House is furious that a New York Times story pointed out that defensive weapons systems used against a missile attack were not installed on the plane, nor was a refueling system to enable it to stay aloft in an emergency.Just some of the things that are unfinished.
So the new 747-8 flew empty to RAF Mildnhall Air Base in England and waited for Trump to arrive from Turkey on the certifiably defensive minded 747’s that have flown presidents for decades. Then he flew home in the new plane now painted to look like his aged campaign plane. Just bigger and shinier except with the words “United States” emblazoned on the upper fuselage.
The plane was “donated” by the Emir of Qatar, at which time experts described the numerous systems that it did not have and would cost between $400 million or more dollars to properly install. The time table estimates were between two and four years do do it properly as it is all custom work involving disassembly and rebuilding.
The Qatari plane arrived in the USA, accepted by the US Air Force in May 2025. Obviously some modifications have been made, using it for its first domestic trip13 months later. Obviously it had a paint job to Trump’s personal taste, all; the necessary presidential seals and interior quick fixes were accomplished. Air Force pilots trained on flight simulators and used two 747-8 planes purchased for training at $400 million. Communications gear changes must have been acomplished, but again this is not like swapping radios in a car.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accepted the luxury jet ignoring the emoluments cause of the Constitution forbidding foreign gifts to US leaders. Aviation experts immediately raised issues about safety and cyber security, but Trump ,who never worries about spending government money ,claimed it would save tax dollars.
Air Force One is not just any aircraft; it is actually many things at once.
It is a flying office, command center, medical bay, and a symbol of US power. The plane must always be ready for emergencies, be capable of refueling while aloft, and has advanced military grade communications systems to stay in contact with US military leaders and international leaders anywhere on the globe.
These are not “off the shelf” systems like what one might buy to change an automobile’s performance. Installation difficulty comes in a plane which already has a full interior to first be dismantled. There is an issue which the newspaper did not disclose which is public knowledge: the plane’s used by the president have a fuselage with a second exterior skin designed to make it impervious to radiation and electronic snooping.
Any plane carrying the president is labeled AF-1. But the specific presidential planes need the capability to refuel while aloft, stay in touch with leaders around the globe, even during the worst crises. This requires the highest levels of redundancy, security and advanced communication systems.
It is absurd that the the Trump regime wants to know how journalists learned that multiple levels of security were skipped to satisfy Trump’s ego. Just google the planes and learn that “Converting” Qatar’s Boeing 747-8 to Air Force One specifications could cost $400–$750 million and take at least two years, probably more because:
A complete security overhaul includes the airframe for any “unexpected” technology.
All communications and navigation hardware is replaced.
Anti-surveillance tools are installed throughout the aircraft structure.
Defense Upgrades
include fitting missile warning systems, laser defense, flare/chaff release, and radar-jamming equipment.
Plus adding EMP protection for any burst of electromagnetic radiation created by a nuclear explosion. The resulting rapidly varying electric and magnetic fields may couple with electrical and electronic systems to produce damaging current and voltage surges. The specific characteristics of a particular nuclear EMP event vary according to a number of factors.
the most important of which is the altitude of the detonation.This involves encasing wiring and power systems in special shielding.
Communications Technology includes Installing satellite phones, encrypted radio links, and other tools for secure talks. Making sure these devices work all over the world and can’t be jammed or intercepted.
Power systems and redundancy are a priority so there is no single point of failure.
Medical Facilities include an advanced medical bay for emergencies, making sure medical gear is fully secure from outside access
Living and Working Spaces for private meetings, secure briefings, and comfortable stays.
Every step requires unique parts, careful handling, and repeated checks. With so many sensitive details and safety standards involved, each change brings extra layers of work and paperwork.
Only technicians with security clearances can work on these planes, including testing every single new system to guarantee it works under extreme conditions. This is not cheap work—most parts, such as security panels and EMP shields, are custom-built and installed.
The plan to eliminate a the small but complete hospital bay on this plane seems stupid with an 80 year old president clearly not in the best of health. The plan to have less kitchen and food storage based on using it for short domestic flights seem equally short-sided.
So, while President Trump’s talk about a “gift” may sound appealing, it is actually a multi-billon dollar grift which he expects to take home when his term is over. The per hour cost to crew it, fly it and maintain it is beyond his low cut cheap approach to things. It is difficult to pin down exact costs but operating a presidential jet plane runs to $200,000 an hour , which includes fuel, consumables, engine and plane maintenance costs and the salaries of the flight crew. That is per hour., so a round trip from Washington to Los Angeles is easily $2,000,000. Those weekend presidential fights to a golf course can be $600,000 round trip.
The reason the two previously ordered new 747’s for the government are behind schedule is complicated by the requirement for aircraft workers with security clearances creating a personnel problem.A fixed cost deal means Boeing is not willing to lose a lot of money on this rush job concept. There are supply chain bottlenecks, amplified by all the special requirements described above.
Without question, Trump will prove to be the most expensive US President in history figured for costs, impact on Constitutional Government, and changing the reputation of the United States in global affairs.