Trump jokingly jabs Air Force pilots as they get louder applause: 'End of your job!'
U.S. President Donald Trump looks on as he stands in front of the VC-25B aircraft gifted by Qatar that will be used as Air Force One, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., June 19, 2026. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

President Donald Trump seemed mildly taken aback when a pair of Air Force officers got a bigger round of applause than he did, while speaking about the unveiling of the new Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews on Friday.

"That's pretty good. That's the best hand. You got a bigger hand than I did," said Trump. "That's the end of your job. I don't like that. I'm not happy about it."

Trump then seemed to find himself again. "Nah, these are great pilots. These are great, very talented people."

The president's new plane was a gift from the government of Qatar, which has made it controversial from the start as observers believe it was intended to curry favor with the U.S. government and shape American foreign policy.

Previous reporting indicated that the interior of the plane will be far more luxurious than prior aircraft used to transport the president — and have limitations compared to previous aircraft, including an inability to fly so-called "Golden Eagle" missions carrying the remains of former presidents.