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The Boeing 747-8 jetliner gifted to the Donald Trump administration<\/a> by the Qatari royal family is set to be delivered to Trump by this summer.<\/p>\n Confirming the anticipated use of the aircraft as the new Air Force One jet, an air force spokesperson told the Guardian: \u201cThe Air Force remains committed to expediting delivery of the VC-25 bridge aircraft in support of the Presidential airlift mission, with an anticipated delivery no later than summer 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n The air force added that it has accepted the Qatari gift which will be used for executive airlift.<\/p>\n Described as a \u201cflying palace\u201d<\/a>, the estimated $400m gift to Trump last year drew widespread bipartisan backlash, with lawmakers voicing ethical concerns<\/a> over Qatar\u2019s motives and questioning the 13-year-old plane\u2019s security measures.<\/p>\n The announcement of the gift last May came as Trump embarked on his first foreign trip <\/a>since retaking office last January, choosing to visit Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia \u2013 all US allies with large sovereign wealth funds.<\/p>\n Despite the criticisms, Trump defended<\/a> the gift at the time, calling it a \u201cvery nice gesture\u201d and saying: \u201cNow I could be a stupid person and say: \u2018Oh no, we don\u2019t want a free plane.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Last August, Trump asserted that the aircraft would be ready by February, a claim met with skepticism<\/a> from defense and aviation experts due to the extensive modifications required.<\/p>\n The revised delivery timeline for the aircraft \u2013 currently being refitted to meet presidential security standards including missile defense systems, secure communications and protection against electromagnetic pulses from nuclear explosions \u2013 is widely expected to align with the US\u2019s 250th birthday on 4 July.<\/p>\n Earlier this week, Trump\u2019s current Air Force One \u2013 which was en route to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland \u2013 was forced to turn back to Washington DC shortly after takeoff following what officials called a \u201cminor electrical issue\u201d.<\/p>\n