Donald Trump’s new Air Force One: The Qatari gift that has sparked a storm in Washington

The United States has formally accepted a luxury Boeing 747-8 jetliner from the government of Qatar, prompting intense scrutiny over its intended use as a new Air Force One for President Donald Trump. The donation, confirmed by the Pentagon on May 21, has raised serious legal and ethical questions, including whether such a gift from a foreign state violates federal law and the US Constitution.

 

According to Sean Parnell, chief spokesman for the US Department of Defence, the plane was accepted "in accordance with all federal rules and regulations." He added that the department would ensure that the aircraft met all necessary security and mission standards before it could be used to transport the president.

 

Yet the plane, worth an estimated $200-$400 million and originally configured for Qatari royalty, is not currently equipped to serve as Air Force One. It will require significant upgrades, including sophisticated communications equipment, missile defence systems and protections against nuclear electromagnetic pulses. Pentagon officials have warned that retrofitting the aircraft could cost upwards of a billion dollars and take longer than completing two other aircraft already under construction by Boeing for presidential use.

 

The two Boeing aircraft were ordered in 2018 under a $3.9 billion contract, with initial delivery expected in 2024. However, delays have pushed the timeline back to at least 2027, potentially beyond Trump’s term in office. Frustrated by the slow progress, Trump sought a quicker solution. "We are the United States of America," he remarked earlier this month. "I believe we should have the most impressive plane."

 

Trump has made no secret of his dissatisfaction with the ageing 747s that have transported US presidents for over three decades. The aircraft, first used during George H.W. Bush’s presidency, are increasingly unreliable and costly to maintain. Although officials from both parties have long called for replacements, Trump wanted a new aircraft ready while he remains president.

 

What followed was a series of secretive negotiations between Washington and Doha. According to multiple sources familiar with the matter who spoke to major US news outlets, the initial approach came from the Pentagon. After Boeing informed US officials it could not expedite delivery of the new jets, the company provided a list of international clients who owned planes that might fit the requirement. Among them was Qatar, which had been trying to sell one of its two lavishly-appointed 747-8 aircraft for several years.

 

Qatar donated a similar model to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2018 as a show of gratitude following Ankara's decision to stand with Doha during a regional crisis. The second jet, never sold or repurposed, became the centre of US interest earlier this year.

 

Steven Witkoff, the real estate billionaire turned Trump's Middle East envoy, whose financial dealings with Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund had previously saved one of his Manhattan ventures, played a pivotal role in the negotiations. Sources say Witkoff helped initiate and facilitate early talks, which began as discussions over a possible purchase. The idea of a gift reportedly emerged later during high-level deliberations.

 

By May 11, Trump announced on social media that Qatar would be gifting the aircraft "free of charge." However, this narrative contrasts with earlier accounts provided by administration officials, who confirmed that initial plans involved buying the jet.

 

Flight records show the aircraft was flown directly from Doha to West Palm Beach on February 15 so that the president could inspect it firsthand while staying at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Trump took a tour of the plane at Palm Beach International Airport and was reportedly captivated by its opulent interior. The upper deck includes a lounge and a communications hub, while the master bedroom boasts high-end finishes, a luxury bathroom and the capability to transform into a medical bay. The staff cabin contains 12 fully reclining business-class seats.

 

The aircraft, however, has limited appeal in commercial aviation due to its custom configuration and high operating costs—estimated at $25,000 to $35,000 per flight hour. The 30-hour round trip from Qatar to Florida may have cost as much as a million dollars.

 

After seeing the jet, Trump returned to Washington enthused and began referring to it as though it were already his. The conversation inside the administration shifted rapidly from a potential purchase to a proposed donation. Pentagon officials were reportedly taken by surprise, with no record of the Air Force ever recommending a gift arrangement. Yet by late February, senior White House officials embraced the idea, reasoning that a donation could simplify and expedite the process.

 

Whether Qatar volunteered the donation or was encouraged to do so remains unclear. Some officials maintain the Qataris floated the idea themselves. Others suggest Witkoff or other intermediaries framed it as a mutually beneficial gesture. Qatar has avoided confirming the exact origins of the offer.

 

Critics, however, have not been reassured. Legal scholars and bipartisan figures in Congress have warned the arrangement may violate the US Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval. No such approval has been granted for this transfer.

 

Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, voiced concern that such a gesture, even if legal, risks undermining US credibility. “I wonder if our ability to judge [Qatar’s] human rights record will be clouded by this large gift,” he told Fox News. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas echoed similar reservations, noting the potential for espionage and surveillance threats. Many worry that retrofitting the Qatari aircraft may not be sufficient to eliminate embedded security vulnerabilities.

 

On Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has led the Democratic opposition, tabling legislation that would bar the use of foreign-owned aircraft as Air Force One. Last week, he also placed a procedural hold on Department of Justice nominees after reports emerged that the DOJ had quietly deemed the transaction legally permissible.

 

Separately, Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut spearheaded an effort to block $1.9 billion in arms sales to Qatar, referencing the plane deal as a factor. A joint resolution of disapproval has been filed, guaranteeing a Senate floor vote and intensifying pressure on the White House.

 

Further controversy arose when Trump stated that the aircraft would eventually be turned over to his presidential library after he leaves office, citing the example of Ronald Reagan’s museum displaying a retired presidential jet. Later, however, he denied any intent to use the plane privately once out of office. But there are reports that near the end of Trump's term, ownership of the aircraft will indeed be transferred to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation.

 

Critics argue that the appearance of impropriety alone is damaging, especially given Qatar’s longstanding efforts to cultivate influence in Washington. The Gulf nation has spent more than $8 billion building and upgrading the Al Udeid Air Base, home to one of the largest US military installations in the Middle East. During Trump’s recent visit to Qatar, he announced the country was preparing to invest a further $10 billion into the base.

 

Behind the scenes, military planners remain wary. Transforming the jet into a fully functional Air Force One is no small feat. Boeing has spent years working on presidential aircraft, incorporating hardened systems capable of resisting electromagnetic attacks and outfitting them with secure communications infrastructure. Achieving similar standards on the Qatari jet would be an immense undertaking—possibly exceeding $1 billion—and there is currently no appropriation from Congress to fund the work.

 

White House officials have floated the possibility of contracting L3Harris, a defence technology firm, to handle the conversion. However, the total cost and funding source remain undisclosed. Former Pentagon acquisition officials warn that any attempt to skip vital security retrofits, even to save time or money, could severely compromise national security.

 

Qatar has insisted its intentions are sincere and strategic. Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said on May 19 that the matter was still undergoing legal review but emphasised the government’s willingness to assist its allies.

"This is a straightforward government-to-government discussion between our Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defense,” he said. “If there’s something the US needs, and it’s completely legal, we are ready to help. We don’t shy away from supporting our partners."

 

Dismissing the idea that the gift was a bribe or influence tactic, he concluded: "We are a country that values strong partnerships and friendships. Anything we provide is offered in the spirit of mutual respect. It’s a two-way relationship—beneficial to both Qatar and the United States."

Middle East