Donald Trump traveled to Medora, North Dakota, on Wednesday to inaugurate a library dedicated to Theodore Roosevelt [1, 2].

The trip marks the public debut of a refurbished Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, which will now serve as a new Air Force One [1, 2]. The acquisition of a high-value aircraft from a foreign government represents a significant shift in the traditional procurement and branding of the U.S. presidential fleet.

Trump said the aircraft should be painted in a specific scheme of red, white, blue, and gold [1, 2]. The jet arrived in North Dakota on July 1, 2026, as the centerpiece of the visit to Medora [2].

Reports said the value of the gifted Boeing 747 is $400 million [2]. The aircraft underwent refurbishing before its use in this official capacity [2].

The event in Medora combined the unveiling of the aircraft with the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt library [1, 2]. The library serves as a tribute to the 26th U.S. president, who had deep ties to the North Dakota region [1].

Trump used the occasion to showcase the scale and design of the new plane to the public and press [1]. The arrival of the $400 million jet [2] in the rural landscape of North Dakota highlighted the contrast between the luxury of the presidential transport and the rustic setting of the library's location [1, 2].

“Donald Trump traveled to Medora, North Dakota, on Wednesday to inaugurate a library dedicated to Theodore Roosevelt.”

The use of a foreign-gifted aircraft as a primary presidential transport deviates from the standard U.S. military procurement process for Air Force One. By accepting a $400 million asset from Qatar and implementing a custom color palette, the administration is signaling a departure from traditional diplomatic and military protocols regarding the visual and operational identity of the U.S. presidency.