Trump’s Qatar Gift Jet Expected To Cost US Taxpayers Hundreds Of Millions

President Donald Trump was gifted a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jet from Qatar's royal family intended to serve as a new Air Force One. However, aviation experts and lawmakers warn that retrofitting the commercial plane to meet the rigorous security, communication, and defense standards required for presidential use could cost U.S. taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, possibly exceeding $1 billion and delaying completion into the 2030s. The extensive overhaul would involve dismantling the plane to install secure communication lines, self-defense systems, electromagnetic shielding, and thorough sweeps for foreign software or embedded technology, all of which are costly and complex. Critics, including Rep. Joe Courtney and former Air Force officials, highlight that this conversion would divert specialized military manpower from other duties and could distract from ongoing projects to update the current Air Force One fleet. The gift has sparked controversy over national security, financial prudence, and ethical concerns, with Trump defending the acceptance of the plane as a generous gesture despite the potential burden on taxpayers. Given these challenges, Trump has suggested looking for alternative aircraft, and experts question the practical and financial wisdom of proceeding with the Qatar jet conversion.