Qatar’s Boeing 747-8 for use as Air Force One
- Status
- Accepted by the Pentagon; first flew as Air Force One in July 2026
- Type
- Gift to the government · May 21, 2025
- Counterparty
- The government of Qatar
- Amount
- Aircraft valued at about $400 million
- People
- Donald Trump
WHO PAID, WHO GOT WHAT
The Pentagon accepted the 13-year-old royal-family jet a week after reports that Qatar was offering it for Trump’s use. Trump said in May 2025 that the plane would go to his presidential library after his term, AP reported. In August 2026, a White House official told ABC News “no final decision has been made yet” on its future after he leaves office.
WHAT THE RECORD SHOWS
The Air Force said it would award a classified contract to convert the jet. Democrats in Congress questioned whether the gift was lawful under the Emoluments Clause, NPR and Defense News reported. Lawmakers of both parties raised security concerns; Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said on CNBC that the plane posed “significant espionage and surveillance problems.”
RESPONSE
Trump called the gift “a great thing” and, before it was accepted, said it “helps us out” because the presidential planes he flies on are decades old. The Defense Department said it accepted the aircraft in accordance with federal rules.
Correction. An earlier version misquoted Trump as saying Qatar handed over the plane “so they could help us out.” The entry now quotes what he said. Corrected September 18, 2026.
SOURCES
- NPR: Trump administration officially accepts jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One ↗
- Defense News: Pentagon accepts Qatari jet for Air Force One ↗
- PBS NewsHour (Associated Press): Defense Department accepts luxury jet from Qatar for Trump’s use ↗
- PBS NewsHour (Associated Press): WATCH: Asked about Qatar’s gift of luxury 747, Trump says ‘We give free things out, we’ll take one, too’ ↗
- ABC News: ‘No final decision’ on future of Qatar-donated Air Force One after Trump’s term, White House official says ↗
- CNBC: Sen. Ted Cruz: Qatar’s plane poses ‘significant espionage and surveillance problems’ ↗
- NBC News: Turning Qatari 747 into Air Force One could cost $1 billion and take years, experts say ↗
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