A Boeing 747 jet worth an estimated $400 million has been gifted to the United States by the Qatari royal family, and the Pentagon has confirmed that the aircraft will join the Air Force One fleet after extensive upgrades. The move has triggered major political debate, with critics, including some of President Donald Trump’s strongest supporters, raising legal and ethical concerns.
According to BBC News, Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated, “The Secretary of Defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations.” However, questions remain about whether the gift violates the U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which bans federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign governments without Congress’s approval. In this case, no such approval was given.
President Trump defended the decision, saying, “They’re giving us a gift. It would be stupid to turn down the plane.” He also emphasized that the aircraft is not for his personal use, adding, “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.”
Despite Trump’s defense, many Republicans have expressed discomfort. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky said on Fox News, “I think it’s not worth the appearance of impropriety, whether it’s improper or not.” He added, “I wonder if our ability to judge Qatar’s human rights record will be clouded by the fact of this large gift.”
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas also raised concerns, saying, “Accepting the gift could pose significant espionage and surveillance problems.”
The White House argues the deal is legal because the plane is going to the Department of Defense, not to President Trump personally. The administration also says the jet will be used temporarily until Boeing completes new presidential aircraft, planes that are behind schedule.
The Qatari government insists the exchange is official and not personal. “It has nothing to do with personal relationships, neither on the US side, nor the Qatari side,” said Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. “It’s between the two defence ministries.”
The aircraft will need several years of work before it can serve as Air Force One. The modifications will include advanced security systems, nuclear-blast protection, and mid-air refueling capabilities. Mark Cancian, a defense expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, estimated that retrofitting the jet could cost “easily $1 billion.”
Currently, the U.S. president flies on two aging Boeing 747-200 aircraft built in the early 1990s. The Air Force One fleet also includes smaller planes like the Boeing 757.
The jet from Qatar is currently being stored in Palm Beach, Florida, close to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Reports say Trump visited the plane shortly after the beginning of his second term.
While the Trump administration insists the move strengthens ties with a key Middle Eastern ally, the backlash shows that even gifts between governments can carry heavy political baggage.
“This isn’t just about a plane,” Senator Paul said. “It’s about perception, legality, and the independence of our foreign policy.”