Overview

• President Trump has formally agreed to accept a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jet gifted by Qatar as a temporary Air Force One, with plans to transfer it to his presidential library post-term.
• The decision follows significant delays and cost overruns in Boeing’s Air Force One replacement program, with delivery now expected no earlier than 2027.
• Experts estimate retrofitting the Qatari jet to meet presidential security and communication standards could take years and cost up to $1 billion, doubling the plane’s value.
• Legal opinions from Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington deemed the gift constitutional if ownership is transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation before Trump leaves office.
• The move has drawn bipartisan criticism, with concerns over foreign influence, ethical implications, and the precedent set by accepting such a high-value gift.