Trump set to debut Qatar’s gifted Air Force One in patriotic July 4 push

Trump set to debut Qatar’s gifted Air Force One in patriotic July 4 push The trip to Medora in western North Dakota is expected to mark the debut of a refurbished Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar that will serve as Air Force One - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Donald Trump is set to travel to North Dakota on Wednesday to dedicate a museum honoring Theodore Roosevelt, invoking the Republican president's legacy as he promotes a message of American greatness ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. This visit forms part of a broader embrace of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, which Trump is using to underscore his leadership and vision for the nation ahead of November's midterm elections. The trip to Medora in western North Dakota is also anticipated to feature the debut of a refurbished Boeing 747, gifted by Qatar, which will serve as Air Force One. The aircraft will sport a red, white, dark blue, and gold paint scheme personally selected by Trump. This plane has drawn scrutiny due to the cost and rapid pace of its renovations, as well as the unusual acceptance of a luxury jumbo jet from a foreign country. Mr. Trump has dismissed criticisms of the arrangement, while the Air Force maintains the plane meets presidential standards. Trump's emphasis on patriotic events marking the country’s "semiquincentennial" comes as Americans remain sharply divided over the president, who has been a dominant political figure for a decade. These celebrations have been central to his messaging in an election year that is grappling with voter concerns over the cost of living and the war in Iran. The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, a 96,000-square-foot (8,919-square-meter) facility carved out of local soil, is scheduled to open on Saturday in North Dakota. It overlooks a national park named for Roosevelt because of the formative years he spent in the nearby Badlands. Trump has frequently praised Roosevelt, a rugged conservationist who served as president from 1901 to 1909. Roosevelt expanded the nation's reach, helping to push Spain out of the Americas and securing control of the Panama Canal. During his tenure, the United States was emerging as the global power it remains. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum echoed this sentiment in a press release, stating: "Theodore Roosevelt believed America’s greatest work was always still ahead. President Trump shares that conviction in American greatness, and in the belief that this nation’s finest age is yet to come." As part of his week of events, Trump plans to visit Mount Rushmore on Friday, the mountain sculpture in South Dakota of Roosevelt and Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln. He is also expected to deliver a campaign-style speech on Saturday as part of a July 4 celebration in Washington that will include a 35-minute fireworks display over the Potomac River. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments [Image text:] 60900600060600000 UNITED STATES OF