US president Donald Trump has defended Qatar’s offer of a luxury Boeing 747 jet to temporarily serve as Air Force One, calling it a “very nice gesture” from a US ally — even as the move continues to ignite fierce criticism over its legality, optics, and potential national security risks.
The Boeing 747-8, reportedly toured by Trump in February, is a customised luxury aircraft valued at around $400 million (approximately ₹3,340 crore). It has been dubbed a “flying palace” and is among the world’s most expensive private jets.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump blamed US plane-maker Boeing for the need to accept the aircraft, citing years-long delays in the production of a new presidential aircraft.
“I think what happened with the plane is that we’re very disappointed that it’s taken Boeing so long to build a new Air Force One, we have an Air Force One that’s 40 years old,” he said. “You look at some of the Arab countries and the planes they have parked alongside the United States of America plane, it’s like from a different planet.”
Critics say that does not change the underlying issue of accepting an expensive gift — one that Maggie Haberman of the New York Times noted could be “the most expensive gift from a foreign government in US history.”
She added: “If Trump continued using it out of office, it would give him access to a much more modern plane than Trump Force One,” which is a private Boeing 757 built in 1991 that belongs to the organization run by his sons.
Here are six things you need to know:
📌Trump to receive Boeing 747-8 jet from Qatar – a “GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE”
The Qatari government may gift President Trump a state-of-the-art jumbo jet during his visit to Doha, according to ABC News. The aircraft could serve as a temporary Air Force One until the end of his second term.
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According to ABC, after serving as Trump’s Air Force One, the jet would be transferred to his presidential library foundation by January 1, 2029 — raising further questions about ownership and legality.
Defending the idea, Trump, himself appeared to confirm the plan in a post on his Truth Social platform.
“So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane,” he wrote.
📌Qatar says deal not finalised
A statement from Qatar on Sunday acknowledged it had held discussions with the US about “the possible transfer” of a plane to be used temporarily by Trump as his presidential aircraft, usurping Air Force One. The emirate’s statement denied a final decision over the transfer had been made – or that it was a gift.
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A 13-year-old private Boeing aircraft that President Donald Trump toured on Saturday to check out new hardware and technology features, and highlight the aircraft maker’s delay in delivering updated versions of the Air Force One presidential aircraft, takes off from Palm Beach International Airport.(AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)
“The possible transfer of an aircraft… is currently under consideration,” said Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s media attaché. “But the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made.”
📌Gift would bypass Air Force One delays
The current Air Force One fleet is over 30 years old. Boeing’s next-gen replacements have been delayed and over budget, costing the company billions. Trump’s plan offers a workaround.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNBC: “Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws. President Trump’s Administration is committed to full transparency.”
Trump’s legal advisers, including Pam Bondi, argue the deal is lawful because the plane is technically a gift to the US Air Force, not Trump personally. A Justice Department memo reportedly backs this interpretation.
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📌Critics cite the Emoluments Clause
The Constitution bars federal officeholders from accepting gifts from foreign states without congressional approval. Ethics officials warn that Trump’s acceptance may violate this clause.
“Trump is committed to exploiting the federal government’s power, not on behalf of policy goals, but for amassing personal wealth,” said Kathleen Clark, a government ethics professor at Washington University in St Louis, quoted by the Associated Press.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer mocked the decision: “Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar.” Some conservatives warned of national security vulnerabilities.
Jamie Raskin, a Democratic congressman of Maryland, said: “Trump must seek Congress’ consent to take this $300m from Qatar. The Constitution is perfectly clear: no present of any kind whatever from a foreign state without Congressional permission.”
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Democratic pollster Matt McDermott echoed similar sentiments, saying: “Literally speechless…
“A foreign regime gifting a jet to a former president. It’s bribery in broad daylight. Today: Qatar ‘gifts’ Trump a luxury jet. Surely just a coincidence,” McDermott said.
📌Security experts warn of limited protections
A former US official told the AP that the Qatari jet lacks key survivability features—like anti-missile tech, radiation shielding, and secure communications—present in existing Air Force One models.
Juliette Kayyem, a Harvard security professor, warned about surveillance concerns: “The surveillance and security aspects are also as disturbing as the grift… Qatar will surely offer a plane that satisfies their needs as well,” The Guardian reported.
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President Donald Trump speaks after signing an executive order related to drug prices, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
📌Ties to Trump’s business in the region
The deal has also raised eyebrows in light of the Trump Organisation’s recent $5.5 billion (₹45,925 crore) golf course development announced in Qatar, prompting suspicions of a quid pro quo between Trump’s business interests and foreign policy.
Trump on Monday clarified that Qatar, a major buyer of Boeing aircraft, had stepped in with the offer as a way to help fill the gap. “They knew about [manufacturing delays] because they buy Boeings, they buy a lot of Boeings, and they knew about it and they said we would like to do something. And if we can get a 747 as a contribution to our defense department to use for a couple of years while we’re building the other ones, I think that was a very nice gesture… I appreciate it very much.”
“I could be a stupid person and say no, we don’t want a free plane,” he added, arguing that maintaining older planes was prohibitively expensive. “It costs an astronomical amount.”
