Photo by Jeffry S.S
The White House is currently engaged in negotiations with the Qatari royal family regarding the possible acquisition of a luxury jumbo jet that could serve temporarily as an Air Force One aircraft for the President of the United States.
Qatar has publicly stated that the aircraft would not be presented as a gift, clarifying that the transfer is being considered for “temporary use” and that discussions are ongoing between the two governments. The Qatari government emphasized that no final decision has been reached, and legal departments on both sides are still reviewing the matter.
According to CBS News, the BBC’s media partner in the United States, the aircraft may eventually be donated to President Trump’s presidential library after the conclusion of his second term. The development surfaces as Trump prepares to travel to Qatar this week as part of his first major foreign tour since returning to office.
Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s Media Attaché to the United States, confirmed that talks are taking place between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense. He stressed that “the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made” as of yet.
Sources cited by CBS News indicate that the plane is not ready for immediate use and will need to undergo significant retrofitting, including the installation of advanced security features and clearance by U.S. security officials before it can serve in a presidential capacity.
The potential value and handling of the plane are already drawing scrutiny, with critics likely to raise legal and ethical concerns about the optics and implications of accepting such an asset from a foreign government.
On Sunday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed these concerns, stating, “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.” Her remarks were intended to assure the public that all relevant protocols are being followed.
Despite Qatar’s denial that the plane is a gift, President Trump characterized it as such in a statement posted on his Truth Social platform on Sunday. Defending the deal, he wrote, “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.”
Currently, the U.S. presidential fleet includes two customized Boeing 747-200B aircraft, equipped with advanced communications systems and amenities such as a stateroom, an office, and a conference room. These planes have served presidents since 1990 and 1991, and typically remain in service across successive administrations.
Historically, presidential aircraft are rarely retained as part of legacy collections. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is the only institution known to have a retired Air Force One plane, which had served seven different presidents before being preserved as an exhibit.
Qatar is reportedly offering a version of the Boeing 747-8, a much newer aircraft than the current fleet. According to ABC News, this particular jet has been extensively modified and described as a “flying palace,” complete with luxury accommodations and custom interiors.
Boeing, the U.S. aerospace giant, was originally contracted to build updated Air Force One planes, but President Trump has expressed frustration with the delays. During his first administration, the Trump White House negotiated with Boeing for two 747-8 aircraft to serve as the next-generation presidential planes. However, Boeing has since stated that the aircraft are not expected to be delivered before 2027 or 2028.
In February, President Trump voiced his dissatisfaction, saying, “No, I’m not happy with Boeing. It takes them a long time to do, you know, Air Force One, we gave that contract out a long time ago. We may buy a plane or get a plane, or something.”
Trump has maintained a generally positive diplomatic rapport with Qatar, beginning in his first term. In 2019, the Gulf state made headlines with the announcement of a major purchase of U.S.-manufactured aircraft, signaling strong commercial and defense ties between the two nations.
Qatar has a precedent for offering aircraft to other countries as diplomatic gestures. In 2018, the country gifted a high-end private jet to Turkey, setting a potential model for the current negotiations with the U.S.
The discussions over the temporary use of a Qatari luxury jet as Air Force One underscore the complex blend of diplomacy, optics, and legal protocol involved when foreign assets intersect with American presidential infrastructure. The outcome of these talks could have significant implications both for U.S.-Qatar relations and for how the Trump administration addresses evolving logistical and symbolic needs of the presidency.
