Claim
The US government has spent considerable money upgrading the aircraft with security modifications.
“इस विमान को अपग्रेड करने पर भी अमेरिका की सरकार ने काफी पैसा खर्च किया है।”▶ Watch source segment
Rationale
Multiple reputable wire and broadcast sources confirm that the US government (Air Force) spent substantial funds — an official estimate of under $400 million, with experts citing up to ~$1 billion — retrofitting the Qatar-gifted Boeing 747 with security, communications and defensive modifications to serve as Air Force One, matching the anchor's claim made a day after the jet's first presidential flight on July 1, 2026.
Evidence
- https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/01/retrofitted-qatari-jet-flight-air-force-one-trump.html CNBC: The US Air Force modified the Qatar-gifted 747 in Texas since September to meet security, communications and other presidential-transport needs; retrofit funded by the government. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.npr.org/2026/07/02/nx-s1-5877618/trump-takes-first-flight-on-new-air-force-one-gifted-by-the-qatari-government NPR (broadcast-date coverage): Qatari jet retrofitted using US taxpayer dollars with security upgrades before Trump's first flight on July 1, 2026. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.newsweek.com/trumps-first-flight-on-new-air-force-one-with-400m-overhaul-of-qatar-gift-12146926 Newsweek: Air Force estimated less than $400 million spent on the security overhaul of the gifted aircraft. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/turning-qatari-747-air-force-one-cost-1-billion-take-years-experts-say-rcna206582 NBC News: Experts say installing top-secret systems and removing possible foreign electronics could push security-retrofit costs above $1 billion. ✓ reachable · archived