Washington: Is it goodbye Air Force One, hello Qatar Force One? White House officials bade farewell on Thursday to one of the two jets that have been used to transport US presidents for more than 30 years.
The goodbye messages fueled speculation that a Boeing 747 controversially gifted to President Donald Trump by the Gulf emirate of Qatar is now due to enter service.
"'Well done, good and faithful servant. 'The Last Ride,'" Trump's communications director Steven Cheung said in a post on X with a picture of the iconic white and blue jet after returning from the G7 summit in France.
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US Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley also posted a photograph of the same plane on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews near Washington.
"I was honored to be aboard Air Force One last night on its final flight," Crowley said on X.
"For nearly 40 years, it carried every President since George H.W. Bush. It wasn't the most modern plane, but it was cozy. And every flight with President Trump was incredibly special.
"Farewell and thank you."
