Pentagon confirms Qatar-donated 747 will be modified for Trump, amid ethics and cost concerns
The Pentagon has confirmed it has accepted a Boeing 747 from the government of Qatar that is intended for President Donald Trump’s use, once it undergoes significant upgrades — a move that has triggered intense political debate and raised questions about ethics, legality, and cost.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said on Wednesday that the plane was received “in accordance with all federal rules and regulations” and that the Department of Defence would now begin ensuring the aircraft meets “proper security measures and functional-mission requirements.”
However, a person familiar with the matter insisted the deal hasn’t been fully finalised and that legal teams on both sides are still negotiating terms.
Asked about the acquisition, Trump told reporters, “Qatar is giving the United States Air Force a jet, okay, and it’s a great thing,” echoing earlier comments he made on Truth Social where he hailed the aircraft as a “GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE.”
Yet the origins of the deal suggest otherwise. According to CNN reporting, it was the Trump administration that first approached Qatar about acquiring one of its 747s, after Boeing informed the Air Force it would be at least two more years before newly built replacement aircraft for Air Force One could be delivered.
With the Trump White House seeking a faster solution, the Pentagon explored alternative sources, and Qatar emerged as a potential supplier. Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, played a key role in helping identify viable options and in coordinating early conversations between U.S. officials and Qatar.
On Tuesday, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin told Congress that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered the Air Force to begin planning for the aircraft’s modification. An Air Force spokesperson confirmed preparations to award a contract for retrofitting the plane for executive airlift, though details remain classified.
Despite Qatar’s Prime Minister asserting the deal was “fully transparent and legal,” Democrats and even some Republicans have raised objections. Concerns range from the appearance of impropriety — accepting a valuable asset from a foreign power — to logistical challenges.
“Ethically, this crosses the line,” said one Senate Democrat. “A sitting president receiving a foreign-government aircraft, even if repurposed for U.S. use, is unprecedented.”
One senior Republican aide told CNN, “This isn’t how we typically procure presidential aircraft. Even allies like Qatar aren’t supposed to just hand them over.”
Security experts have also warned that retrofitting a foreign-owned aircraft to meet presidential standards will be neither quick nor cheap. Intelligence and communications systems aboard Air Force One are among the most sophisticated in the world — capable of nuclear command and control. Equipping a second-hand 747 with that capability could cost hundreds of millions and take up to two years.
“The U.S. essentially has to strip the aircraft down to its frame and rebuild it from scratch,” one former Pentagon official noted. “That’s an enormous undertaking, with massive security implications.”
Meanwhile, the White House has been tight-lipped, deflecting further questions to the Department of Defence and the Air Force.
Though the gesture has been painted by Trump as a diplomatic win and cost-saving move, it now faces increasing scrutiny in Washington, where lawmakers are debating whether the arrangement constitutes an improper gift from a foreign government — or simply an unusual but legal transaction in pursuit of presidential travel needs.
