Critics and supporters alike have been left in shock after President Donald Trump announced he was given a brand-new luxury aircraft that will serve as Air Force One.
According to reports, the Trump administration plans to accept a Boeing 747-8 jet from the royal family of Qatar as a temporary gift.
Valued at around $400 million, the aircraft would replace the aging Air Force One and be transferred to President Trump’s presidential library foundation at the end of his second term.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has confirmed that the arrangement complies with all applicable laws.
The Defense Department would receive the aircraft and retrofit it for presidential use.
The change would provide significant savings compared to the troubled Boeing contract, which has ballooned by over $2 billion over budget.
The current Air Force One planes have been in service since the 1990s, and President Trump has been openly frustrated with Boeing’s inability to deliver replacement aircraft on schedule.
During his first term, the president negotiated a deal with Boeing for new presidential planes, but the project has faced continuous delays, with completion now not expected until 2027.
The Democrat Party has launched attacks on the gift arrangement, saying the cost-saving measure is actually a scandal.
“While working families brace for higher costs and empty shelves, Trump is still focusing on enriching himself and his billionaire backers,” said the Democrat National Committee.
Meanwhile, Boeing is reportedly collaborating with Elon Musk to speed up the delivery of the originally contracted planes.
Critics from both sides of the aisle have raised concerns about potential constitutional issues.
Some claim the gift violates rules on presidential gifts and constitutes a conflict of interest.
However, the White House has emphasized that the gift is for official government use, not personal enrichment, and is not being given in exchange for any favors.
The president is planning a trip to the Middle East, including Qatar, as the first foreign visit of his second term.
U.S. defense contractor L3Harris Technologies is already working to modify the used Qatari Boeing 747 for presidential use.
The retrofitting will ensure the plane meets all security requirements necessary for the Commander-in-Chief while avoiding the astronomical costs associated with building an entirely new aircraft from scratch.
Trump supporters argue that this practical solution reflects the president’s business-minded approach to government, finding creative ways to solve problems while cutting through bureaucratic red tape.
By accepting the Qatar jet for Air Force One use, the administration is doubling down on its commitment to fiscal responsibility and diplomatic relationship-building that benefits American taxpayers.
So the fact that 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, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane.…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) May 12, 2025
