See inside 'The Beast,' Trump's $1.5 million bulletproof presidential limousine

Aug 24, 2026 11:48 PM - 1 hour ago 1

The statesmanlike limousine is known arsenic "The Beast."

The statesmanlike limousine is known arsenic "The Beast." Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

When US presidents aren't flying connected Air Force One aliases taking chopper trips successful Marine One, they're driven astir successful a presidential limousine nicknamed "The Beast."

Weighing 20,000 pounds and outfitted pinch precocious information and communications systems, the newest exemplary of "The Beast" debuted during the first Trump administration successful 2018. The civilization Cadillac reportedly costs astir $1.5 cardinal to build.

The conveyance made headlines successful August 2025, erstwhile Russian President Vladimir Putin rode successful the limousine alongside President Donald Trump arsenic the 2 met successful Alaska to talk the warfare successful Ukraine.

The president and first woman besides rode successful it done Washington, DC, connected Sunday arsenic portion of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.

Take a look wrong the celebrated vehicle.

US presidents recreation successful a unafraid limousine nicknamed "The Beast."

The Presidential limousine "The Beast"

"The Beast" waited connected the tarmac arsenic President Joe Biden disembarked Air Force One successful Helsinki. Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz

US presidents rode Lincoln limousines for astir of the 20th period until the 1980s, erstwhile the Reagan management switched to General Motors Cadillacs.

The latest exemplary of the presidential limousine was commissioned by the US Secret Service successful 2014 and utilized for the first clip successful 2018 by President Donald Trump.

Designed to look for illustration a longer type of the Cadillac CT6, the car's chassis is really that of a General Motors heavy-duty Chevrolet Kodiak truck, NBC News reported.

The heavy armored conveyance is bulletproof, blast-resistant, and sealed to withstand biochemical attacks.

The Beast statesmanlike limo

Members of the Secret Service extracurricular the statesmanlike limousine. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

While specifications astir the limousine's information measures stay classified, NBC News reported that the conveyance features a night-vision system, tear-gas firing capabilities, and doorway handles that tin beryllium electrified to deter intruders.

The windows are believed to beryllium 3 inches thick, and the vehicle's armor is astir 8 inches thick.

"The Beast" is besides equipped pinch aesculapian supplies, including a refrigerator stocked pinch the president's humor type.

Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer successful The Beast.

Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer successful the US statesmanlike motorcade. Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok

NBC News besides reported that the limousine's unafraid communications strategy tin dispatch the motorboat codes for atomic weapons.

The statesmanlike seal appears passim the car's design.

The statesmanlike seal is seen wrong the doorway of US President Joe Biden's limousine

The statesmanlike seal wrong the doorway of "The Beast." ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

The seal, featuring an eagle holding an oliva branch and 13 arrows successful its talons beneath a banner reference "E Pluribus Unum" ("Out of many, one"), appears connected some the interior and exterior of the rider door.

The limousine tin spot up to 7 people.

Joe Biden and Jill Biden successful The Beast

President Joe Biden and first woman Jill Biden waved arsenic they rode successful the statesmanlike limousine. Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz

The interior features h2o vessel holders and plush leather seats. Previous statesmanlike limousines person besides included a fold-out desk, according to the US Secret Service.

"The Beast" travels pinch the president.

The President's limousines are loaded aboard a US Air Force C-17 successful mentation for a trip.

The president's limousines are transported aboard a US Air Force C-17. US Secret Service

Presidential limousines are transported by subject cargo aircraft, specified arsenic US Air Force C-17s, for usage during the president's travels, according to the US Secret Service.

When abroad, the statesmanlike limousine flies the American emblem and the emblem of the big country.

The Beast statesmanlike car successful 2021

The US statesmanlike authorities car, nicknamed "The Beast," astatine Windsor Castle successful the UK. Pool/Max Mumby/Getty Images

When Biden visited the UK successful June 2021, the statesmanlike limousine flew some the American emblem and the Union flag.

On Inauguration Day, Secret Service agents alteration the car's licence plates arsenic a caller president takes power.

Secret Service agents alteration licence plates connected the statesmanlike limousine

Secret Service agents changed the licence plates connected Inauguration Day. Alex Brandon/AP

Some presidents person utilized the Washington, DC, "End Taxation Without Representation" licence plates, while others person removed the slogan.

On President Donald Trump's 2nd Inauguration Day, Secret Service agents gave "The Beast" a bully shine.

A Secret Service supplier shines the statesmanlike limousine.

A Secret Service supplier cleaned the statesmanlike limousine. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Biden and Trump rode to the 2025 inauguration ceremonial together successful the statesmanlike limousine. Jill Biden and Melania Trump followed successful a abstracted car.

In her White House memoir, "View from the East Wing," Jill Biden described their shared thrust arsenic "frosty" and said that Melania Trump "kept trying to move the taxable to the weather."

Russian President Vladimir Putin rode successful "The Beast" pinch Trump successful August 2025.

President Donald Trump enters The Beast

Trump and Putin entered "The Beast" aft they arrived for a gathering successful Alaska. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Ahead of a gathering connected August 15, 2025, to talk the warfare successful Ukraine, Trump and Putin unexpectedly rode successful the car together. The thrust lasted less than 10 minutes and offered the leaders the opportunity to talk privately. Putin was seen smiling from wrong the vehicle.

On Sunday, the president and first woman rode successful "The Beast" during a Freedom 250 Grand Prix arena successful Washington, DC.

"The Beast" astatine Freedom 250 Grand Prix.

The statesmanlike limousine, "The Beast," astatine the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. It drove overmuch much slow than the title cars. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

One of galore events held successful grant of America's 250th anniversary, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix transformed downtown Washington, DC, into a 1.7-mile racecar track.

President Donald Trump and first woman Melania Trump took a ceremonial thigh successful "The Beast," accompanied by the statesmanlike motorcade, earlier the title began.

Trump told Fox Sports that IndyCar proprietor Roger Penske had been trying to big a title successful DC for 20 years, and that the arena "turned retired to beryllium overmuch bigger than we ever moreover thought possible."

Accompanied by the statesmanlike motorcade, "The Beast" remains an instantly recognizable awesome of the powerfulness of the presidency.

The Beast.

The statesmanlike limousine. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

The latest statesmanlike limousine succeeded a civilization DTS Cadillac that was unveiled astatine erstwhile President Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration.

"It is safe to opportunity that this car's information and coded communications systems make it the astir technologically precocious protection conveyance successful the world," the adjunct head for the US Secret Service's Office of Protective Operations said successful a 2009 connection connected the organization's charismatic website.

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Alice Tecotzky is simply a newsman connected the Finance desk, based successful New York City. She writes astir JPMorgan and what it's for illustration to activity connected Wall Street. Have a tip? Email her astatine [email protected], scope her connected Signal astatine alicetecotzky.05, aliases travel her connected X @atecotzky.Alice graduated from Columbia University successful May 2024 pinch a grade successful English. Before she joined Business Insider, she covered breaking news astatine the Daily Beast and acquisition astatine the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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