Pentagon Accepts Qatari Boeing 747 Gift for Air Force One Use

The Pentagon has officially accepted a gifted Boeing 747 aircraft from Qatar intended for President Donald Trump’s use as Air Force One, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirming the acceptance followed all federal rules and regulations. The Department of Defense will undertake significant modifications to retrofit the civilian aircraft with the necessary security and mission-critical features required for presidential transport. President Trump defended the acceptance of the $400 million luxury jet as a cost-saving measure for taxpayers, but the gift has raised bipartisan concerns over potential legal, ethical, and security risks, including constitutional questions about foreign gifts and counterintelligence vulnerabilities. Lawmakers from both parties, including Sen. Adam Schiff and Sen. Jack Reed, have called for oversight of the Defense Department’s decision, emphasizing the risks of granting a foreign nation access to sensitive systems. The Air Force is preparing to award a contract to modify the plane, but critics highlight the time and expense involved, as well as the lack of a clear national security rationale for accelerating this upgrade instead of waiting for Boeing’s new Air Force One jets already in development. The Pentagon has pledged to ensure the aircraft meets all security requirements before it becomes operational for presidential use.