WASHINGTON, D.C. — A luxury Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar to the United States has ignited a fierce political debate, drawing criticism from lawmakers and ethics experts—even from within President Donald Trump’s own party.
The aircraft, valued at an estimated $400 million, was accepted by the Pentagon as a gift from the Qatari royal family, with the intention of eventually modifying it for use in the Air Force One fleet.
But the move has been met with alarm over transparency, legality, and the geopolitical implications of accepting such a lavish donation from a foreign government.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the acceptance, stating: “The Secretary of Defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations.”
However, the transfer did not receive explicit congressional approval, raising fresh concerns over whether it violates the U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits gifts from foreign governments to U.S. officials without congressional consent.
The White House insists the deal is legal, emphasizing that the plane is being handed over to the Department of Defense, not to Trump personally.
It has also stated that the aircraft will eventually be transferred to Trump’s presidential library after his time in office.
Still, the announcement has triggered backlash from both sides of the aisle, with critics arguing that the optics of the deal are troubling—particularly given Qatar’s human rights record and the ongoing delays with Boeing’s official Air Force One replacement program.
“I think it’s not worth the appearance of impropriety, whether it’s improper or not,” said Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) on Fox News. “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 (R-TX) raised separate concerns, calling the move a potential “espionage and surveillance problem.”
The Qatari government has dismissed suggestions of impropriety.
Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani described the deal as “a government-to-government transaction” between two allied defense ministries.
Trump, meanwhile, has defended the deal in typical fashion, posting on Truth Social: “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.”
The gifted aircraft will need extensive retrofitting before it can carry the U.S. president.
That includes installing hardened communications, in-air refueling capabilities, and protection from nuclear electromagnetic pulses.
Analysts estimate the cost of upgrades could exceed $1 billion.
Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said, “The retrofitting will take years and cost a fortune. It’s a high-end military transformation of what is essentially a VIP jet.”
Trump has privately expressed frustration with Boeing, which has yet to deliver two new 747-8 aircraft ordered during his first term.
Those replacements are now expected to enter service no sooner than 2027, according to the manufacturer.
According to multiple reports, Trump quietly toured the Qatari aircraft in Palm Beach earlier this year, just weeks after beginning his second term, fueling further scrutiny over his personal involvement in the transfer.
Despite repeated assurances from both the White House and the Qatari government that there is no quid pro quo involved, the controversy shows little sign of fading—particularly as Trump’s critics and some of his staunchest allies continue to question the wisdom, and legality, of accepting such a high-value foreign gift.
