The Pentagon has taken possession of a Boeing 747 from Qatar — a move that has sparked political backlash and confusion, with Trump calling it a gift and Qatar insisting it was a straightforward government-to-government deal.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth accepted the plane “in accordance with all federal rules and regulations,” according to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell. He said the jet will be upgraded with “proper security measures and functional-mission requirements” so it can be used to transport the president.
When asked about it, Trump told reporters, “Qatar is giving the United States Air Force a jet, okay, and it’s a great thing.” On his platform, Truth Social, he doubled down, calling it a “GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE.”
But Qatar’s Prime Minister painted a different picture.
“This plane story is a Ministry of Defense to the Department of Defense transaction that is done in full transparency and very legally,” Qatar’s Prime Minister told Bloomberg. “It is part of the cooperation that we have always been doing together for decades.”
A source close to the matter told reporters the deal isn’t final and lawyers are still working through the details.
Despite the confusion, the Pentagon is moving forward. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink confirmed that Hegseth has “directed the Air Force to basically start planning to modify the aircraft.” Those modifications could take up to two years and cost more than the plane itself, according to current and former U.S. officials. The overhaul will require stripping the jet to its frame to install secure communications and advanced defense systems.
The Air Force said it’s getting ready to “award a contract to modify a Boeing 747 aircraft for executive airlift,” but wouldn’t share further details, citing classified information.
The origins of the plane deal are just as murky. According to a CNN report, it was the Trump administration that first approached Qatar about the plane. Boeing had informed the Air Force that the new Air Force One jets being built wouldn’t be ready for at least two years. Trump didn’t want to wait.
He had his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, search for alternatives. Boeing later told U.S. defense officials that Qatar had a plane that could work. The Pentagon began talks once it was clear the White House backed the idea.
But according to defense officials, the Air Force believed they were buying the plane — not getting it for free.
The deal is now facing criticism on Capitol Hill. Both Democrats and some Republicans are raising red flags over possible ethics violations, saying a foreign government “gifting” a plane to a president is troubling — especially when the same president once pushed for the deal behind the scenes.
For now, the Pentagon has the jet. Whether it’s a donation, a sale, or something in between remains unclear.
