The United States has accepted a Boeing 747 jetliner, valued at $400 million, as a gift from the Qatari government — with the Air Force now assessing how to rapidly upgrade the aircraft for use as the next Air Force One.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has formally accepted the jet, according to reports first published by The New York Times. The aircraft, manufactured by Boeing, will potentially serve as President Trump’s future official plane.
The surprise donation has raised legal and ethical concerns, particularly regarding longstanding US laws that restrict the acceptance of gifts from foreign governments in order to prevent corruption and undue influence.
Democratic lawmakers are reportedly seeking to block the handover, warning of potential violations of federal ethics guidelines.
Despite the growing scrutiny, both Qatar and the Trump administration appear unmoved. The Qatari government has rejected concerns about the transaction, while President Trump described any refusal of the gift as “stupid.”
Multiple outlets including Bloomberg, CBS News and CNBC have confirmed the deal, citing a Pentagon spokesperson. However, neither the US Department of Defense nor Qatari officials were available for comment at the time of publication.
The timeline for any potential conversion of the jet into a functional presidential aircraft remains unclear, with the Air Force now responsible for determining feasibility and cost.
