US Accepts Qatar-Gifted Boeing 747-8 BBJ for Air Force One

The Trump administration has formally accepted a Boeing 747 jet gifted by Qatar’s government, marking an unexpected addition to the presidential air fleet. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took delivery of the 13-year-old aircraft in accordance with federal regulations, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed. President Donald Trump immediately signaled his intention to designate the jet as the new Air Force One, bypassing the delayed Boeing conversion program for the two existing 747s.

The Qatari gift, valued at roughly $400 million, arrives amid growing concern over the schedule for Boeing’s Air Force One replacements. Originally contracted during Trump’s first term to deliver two specially configured 747-8s, Boeing has fallen years behind, with first delivery now uncertain before the end of the current administration. Trump, visibly frustrated during an Oval Office meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, noted “Boeing’s a little late, unfortunately,” describing the donated aircraft as “a great thing” that would “help us out.”

Under Defense Department guidelines, the Qatari jet must undergo modifications to meet presidential transport standards, including secure communications, advanced defensive countermeasures and interior refitting. Parnell emphasized that the department will ensure the aircraft satisfies all security protocols and mission requirements. However, experts warn that retrofitting the donated jet could cost taxpayers upwards of $1 billion and take several years to complete. The process would involve overhauling avionics, installing classified equipment and reinforcing structures to accommodate protective systems.

Despite those hurdles, Trump defended the acceptance of the jet, arguing that turning down a “free” plane would be “stupid.” He stressed that the gift belongs to the U.S. government and not to him personally. Critics from both parties have decried the arrangement as ethically problematic. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused the administration of accepting a “bribe” and vowed to block Justice Department nominees until “transparency” is provided on the deal. Republican Senator Susan Collins labeled the transaction “rife with political espionage, ethical and constitutional problems.”

The gift from Qatar arrives against a backdrop of strained U.S.-Middle East relations and intense scrutiny of presidential travel expenditures. While the outgoing Air Force One fleet of VC-25A aircraft has reliably served presidents since the 1990s, their aging systems have prompted calls for replacement. Boeing’s contracted program initially promised delivery by 2024, but supply chain challenges, production inefficiencies and design revisions have pushed timelines into 2026 and beyond.

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told investors in April that the Air Force One project is being revised to deliver an earlier first jet without compromising safety or quality. Nonetheless, the allure of a pre-owned 747 has taken on new urgency for an administration eager to showcase rapid improvements. Officials have yet to disclose a definitive schedule for ground transport of the donated jet to its modification facility or the precise scope of necessary upgrades.

As preparations begin, the Pentagon will review maintenance records, flight hours and structural inspections to determine the aircraft’s condition. Once approved for refit, the donated jet will join the presidential hangar alongside the two Boeing 747-8 orders, creating an interim solution for Air Force One duties. Whether the Qatari plane ultimately replaces the existing fleet or serves as backup will depend on the pace of the Boeing program and congressional oversight.

By accepting the gifted Boeing 747, the U.S. government has introduced a new variable into the lengthy process of updating the presidential air fleet. What began as a diplomatic gesture may now reshape Air Force One’s future configuration, even as lawmakers and industry experts question the cost, timeline and ethical implications of repurposing a foreign-donated aircraft for America’s most visible symbol of executive power.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, cnbc.com