local
President Donald Trump unveils the new Air Force One, a converted Qatari jet
By By SEUNG MIN KIM and MANUEL BALCE CENETA at KXXV (ABC 25) News
· June 19, 2026
· 4 min read
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AP) President Donald Trump on Friday showed off the new Air Force One, a formerly Qatari-owned jumbo jet that has been converted into the official U.S. presidential aircraft.The new aircraft eschews the Kennedy-era robins egg blue exterior of the old plane for a bolder l...
Key takeaway This plane was transformed into a flying White House at a level of luxury that nobody has ever seen before, Trump said from inside the massive Joint Base Andrews hangar, as a couple hundred assembled Air Force personnel looked on.
Why this matters in The Waco
The unveiling of the new Air Force One, a converted Qatari jet, may seem like a distant event in Maryland, but its implications can be felt in Waco . As the new presidential aircraft prepares to take to the skies, including a potential flyover during July 4 celebrations, local residents may catch a glimpse of the plane's bold new design. Moreover, the fact that the administration had to rely on a gift from Qatar due to delays in the delivery of new jets from Boeing raises questions about the logistics and planning involved in such high-stakes projects. In a city like Waco, where transportation and infrastructure are crucial to economic development, the story of the new Air Force One serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges involved in managing large-scale projects, and the potential consequences of delays and logistical issues.
About this story
Original reporting by KXXV (ABC 25) News . The Waco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KXXV (ABC 25) News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 19, 2026 ·
Source: KXXV (ABC 25) News ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AP) President Donald Trump on Friday showed off the new Air Force One, a formerly Qatari-owned jumbo jet that has been converted into the official U.S. presidential aircraft.The new aircraft eschews the Kennedy-era robins egg blue exterior of the old plane for a bolder l...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 19, 2026 by KXXV (ABC 25) News and curated for The Waco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by By SEUNG MIN KIM and MANUEL BALCE CENETA at KXXV (ABC 25) News. To learn more about how The Waco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Waco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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