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3d ago

Pentagon Accepts $400M Qatari Jet for Interim Air Force One

The U.S. Defense Department confirmed the acceptance of the plane under federal rules, as Senate Democrats push for an inspector general investigation into constitutional and security concerns.

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A Boeing 747 sits on the tarmac of Palm Beach International airport after President Donald Trump toured the aircraft on Feb. 15, 2025.
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Overview

  • The Pentagon has formally accepted a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jet from Qatar as a temporary Air Force One due to delays in Boeing's replacement program.
  • The Air Force has begun classified planning for retrofitting the jet with secure communications and defense systems, expected to cost over $1 billion and take years.
  • Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Jack Reed, have called for a Pentagon inspector general probe into potential constitutional violations under the Emoluments Clause.
  • President Trump has defended the decision as legal and cost-saving, dismissing bipartisan criticism as politically motivated.
  • Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani stated the gift was made transparently and legally to strengthen U.S.-Qatar relations.