US President Donald Trump will make his first flight on a new Air Force One plane gifted by Qatar later this week, the White House said Monday.
Trump will take the jet Wednesday to North Dakota for an event marking the 250th anniversary of US independence, a White House official told AFP.
As he unveiled the plane earlier this month, Trump praised Qatar for being "so nice and providing" the modified Boeing 747, which previously served Qatari leadership.
Billionaire Trump has been keen since his first term to replace the aging jets that serve as Air Force One, and he hand-picked the new plane's red, white and blue livery.
Trump's administration has said the plane is a direct gift to the US Department of Defense and said the plane would eventually be donated to Trump's presidential library.
The Qatari-gifted plane is meant to be a stopgap until US planemaker Boeing delivers two new 747-8 aircraft to serve as the presidential jet in a program plagued by delays and cost overruns.
