President Donald Trump has announced that the new Air Force One aircraft will undergo additional upgrades to strengthen its capabilities after concerns were raised about its security features.
Speaking after returning from the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey, Trump said the aircraft would soon be sent for further improvements. He said the work is expected to begin in about a month and should take roughly one month to complete.
The president said the aircraft already has strong capabilities but will be upgraded to its highest possible standard. He did not provide specific details about the improvements or explain which systems would be enhanced.
Trump’s comments came after questions about whether the recently introduced aircraft included the same level of defensive technology found on previous presidential planes.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed that the aircraft is considered safe for presidential travel. She said additional upgrades and enhancements are planned for the fall as part of an ongoing improvement process.
According to the White House, Trump will use the previous Air Force One while the new aircraft is undergoing modifications. Officials said the temporary change will allow the upgrade work to be completed without affecting presidential travel.
The Boeing 747 entered presidential service earlier this month after an accelerated renovation process prepared it for official use. The aircraft completed its first official flight carrying the president from Washington to North Dakota.
Although the aircraft is already operating as Air Force One, questions have continued about whether it includes every security feature normally found on presidential aircraft.
Earlier this month, Trump unexpectedly traveled on the older Air Force One during a trip from Turkey to the Royal Air Force base at Mildenhall in the United Kingdom. At the time, he said he chose the older aircraft for sentimental reasons.
The newer aircraft also stopped at the British air base during the trip, allowing American military personnel stationed there to tour the plane.
Reports later suggested that security officials had recommended using the older aircraft during that journey. Trump denied that security concerns influenced his decision.
During the trip, the president also spoke about ongoing threats against him. He said the role of president carries significant security risks and noted that his administration continues to take those threats seriously.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended the security of the new aircraft. He described it as a modern presidential plane equipped with advanced protection measures designed to keep the president and staff safe during official travel.
Cheung added that the administration uses a wide range of security measures to protect the president against potential threats. He did not discuss the specific systems installed on the aircraft.
The announcement comes as the administration continues to review security procedures surrounding presidential transportation. Air Force One is designed to serve as a secure command center while allowing the president to travel safely both within the United States and internationally.
The aircraft includes specialized communications equipment and other systems that support presidential operations during official missions. Additional upgrades are expected to further strengthen those capabilities.
The issue has also attracted attention following reports about the aircraft’s security features. Earlier this month, the Department of Justice reportedly issued subpoenas to several journalists as part of an investigation related to reporting on security concerns involving Air Force One.
The White House has continued to maintain that the aircraft already meets high security standards while confirming that further improvements are planned. Once the upgrade process is complete, the new Air Force One is expected to return to regular presidential service with additional enhancements designed to strengthen its overall capabilities.
