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Preparations are under way to refit a Qatari-owned Boeing jumbo jet that is expected to serve as the official Air Force One for President Donald Trump, according to a report from CBS, the BBC’s US media partner.
The $400 million (£300 million) Boeing aircraft is being provided by Qatar as an “unconditional” donation, with the US government agreeing to cover all associated retrofitting costs to make it suitable for presidential use.
The donation has triggered criticism from both Trump’s opponents and some of his political allies, with several commentators labeling the gift a potential “bribe” from a foreign government.
The White House has maintained that the acceptance of the aircraft is entirely legal, and has pledged that the plane will be transferred to Trump’s presidential library once he leaves office. Under current US rules, officials are only permitted to accept gifts valued at less than $480. However, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Qatar and the US Department of Defense, reviewed by CBS, specifies that the aircraft will be delivered “as is,” with all required modifications overseen by the Pentagon.
The aircraft will also undergo rigorous security evaluations, including inspections for surveillance or espionage equipment, before it is cleared for presidential service.
The MOU clearly states: “Nothing in this MOU is, or shall be interpreted or construed as an offer, promise, or acceptance of any form of bribery, undue influence, or corrupt practice. The parties affirm that the donation is a bona fide gift.”
Nevertheless, news of the US accepting such a high-value gift from Qatar earlier this year sparked immediate and widespread backlash across the political spectrum — including from Trump’s conservative base.
“I think the technical term is ‘skeezy,’” said conservative commentator Ben Shapiro on his Daily Wire podcast. “Qatar is not allegedly giving President Trump a $400 million jet out of the goodness of their sweet little hearts. They try to stuff money into pockets in totally bipartisan fashion.”
Laura Loomer, a prominent right-wing influencer, called the decision to accept the plane a “stain” on the Trump administration.
The BBC has reached out to both the White House and the Pentagon for official comment on the controversial plan.
Why Does the US Need a New Air Force One?
Currently, the US presidential air fleet consists of two Boeing 747-200 aircraft that have been in service since 1990, along with a number of smaller and more discreet Boeing 757s.
Earlier this year, President Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Boeing over the two new Air Force One aircraft he had anticipated receiving directly from the manufacturer. At the time, he suggested the administration might instead “buy a plane or get a plane, or something.”
Legal Questions Surround the Aircraft Gift
While Trump has hailed the Qatari jet as a “great gesture” and said he would be “stupid” to decline it, critics have raised constitutional concerns about the legality of accepting such a gift.
Democratic Senator Adam Schiff pointed to a section of the US Constitution which forbids federal officials from receiving “any present… of any kind whatever” from a foreign state without the express approval of Congress.
Under current legal provisions, US officials may only accept gifts under the value of $480 — making the $400 million jet a glaring exception.
The White House has rejected suggestions that accepting the donation violates the law.
“The legal details of that are still being worked out,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated earlier this year. “Of course, any donation to the government is always done in full compliance with the law.”
Trump has indicated that the plane will be transferred to his presidential library upon leaving office. Typically, presidential libraries serve as archival centers for documents and host privately-funded exhibits and memorabilia.
Retrofitting Could Cost Hundreds of Millions
The full cost of modifying the donated aircraft remains unknown, though defense experts agree it is likely to be exceptionally high.
Necessary upgrades would include cutting-edge communication and security systems, aerial refueling capabilities, and safeguards against electromagnetic pulses from nuclear detonations.
Estimates suggest the retrofit could cost hundreds of millions — potentially approaching or exceeding $1 billion.
A defense official speaking anonymously to CBS suggested that funding for the refit may be diverted from the Sentinel system, a currently overfunded project aimed at modernizing the US land-based intercontinental ballistic missile arsenal developed during the Cold War era.
