US
Donald Trump’s administration officially accepts $400m plane as gift from Qatar
The Trump administration has officially accepted a luxury jet that will be used as Air Force One as a gift from Qatar, the Pentagon said.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth accepted the $400m Boeing 747 and has tasked his department with working to upgrade the plane to make it safe for use by the president.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the plane – dubbed a “palace-in-the-sky” – was accepted “in accordance with all federal rules and regulations”.
Mr Trump has faced scrutiny over the jet, with critics questioning whether receiving the aircraft from the Qatari royal family violates constitutional laws on gifts from foreign governments.
Trump meets Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in Doha, Qatar earlier this month. Pic: Reuters
The US president has rubbished concerns, telling reporters last week: “I think it’s a great gesture from Qatar.
“I appreciate it very much. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer.
“I mean, I could be a stupid person saying: ‘No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane’.”
Pic: Amac Aerospace
The gift came up during Mr Trump’s recent trip to the Middle East.
During the tour, he posted on his Truth Social platform: “Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE.”
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While the plane itself has been gifted, refitting the aircraft to meet security requirements could be costly – with Sky News’ US partner NBC reporting the bill could be as high as $1bn.
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In a bid to quiet some opposition, Mr Trump has said he will not keep the plane after his term finishes, instead donating it to a future presidential library.
However, that has done little to quell anger – which has even come from within the Republican party.
Senator Josh Hawley previously said: “My view is that it would be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America. That would be ideal.”
Boeing has been working to finish new Air Force One jets for years, and the president has previously complained about the delays. But the Trump administration has presented no national security imperative for a swift upgrade, rather than waiting for those to be ready.