Donald Trump has announced that the presidential aircraft gifted to him by the Qatari royal family will begin a new phase of modifications starting in October. These changes, aimed at enhancing security, will take about two months—longer than originally expected. The White House has not disclosed the exact nature of the improvements, but the decision follows a security incident in July during the NATO summit in Turkey. At that time, Trump abruptly switched planes at the last minute to leave the country, later secretly boarding a third aircraft due to concerns over potential threats from Iran. A senior U.S. official emphasized that the president's transportation is "safe and reliable," and that it is "regularly" updated when necessary. The official also praised the plane as "the best presidential plane ever built." The aircraft was originally gifted to Trump by the Qatari royal family in 2020, following his public criticism of the two Air Force One planes that had been in service since 1990. The gift, valued at several hundred million dollars, sparked debates about the ethical and constitutional implications of foreign gifts to a U.S. president. The Qatari plane was remodeled by the U.S. Air Force for its first presidential flight on July 1, 2026, and is expected to remain in use until the delivery of two new Boeing aircraft, which have faced repeated delays. The Air Force acknowledged making some compromises on the interior design to expedite the plane's readiness, but stressed that "no risk was taken in terms of security, safety, or communications." The modifications now planned for October are part of ongoing efforts to ensure the aircraft remains fully functional and secure for presidential travel.