Pentagon Accepts $400M Qatar Jet for Trump Use

The U.S. Department of Defense has officially accepted a luxury Boeing 747 jet gifted by Qatar to serve temporarily as Air Force One for President Donald Trump, marking one of the largest foreign gifts ever given to the U.S. government. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed the acceptance of the plane, emphasizing that all federal rules and regulations were followed, and that the Defense Department will ensure the aircraft meets necessary security and functional mission requirements. The $400 million Boeing 747 will require extensive retrofitting to address counterintelligence and surveillance risks, a process expected to be costly and lengthy. The gift drew bipartisan criticism and ethical concerns, with lawmakers like Sen. Jack Reed calling for an investigation into whether the acceptance evades constitutional limits on foreign gifts without congressional approval. The acceptance fulfills President Trump's long-standing desire for a new presidential aircraft amid delays in the U.S. government's procurement of new Air Force One planes. Trump has stated the plane will transfer to his presidential library after his term ends.