Overview

• President Donald Trump has accepted a $400 million luxury Boeing 747-8 jet from Qatar, intended to serve as a temporary Air Force One during his second term and later transfer to his presidential library.
• The decision has drawn rare bipartisan criticism, with both MAGA hardliners and moderate Republicans citing ethical conflicts and Qatar's alleged ties to terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
• Military experts warn that retrofitting the jet with Air Force One’s necessary security and communication systems would take years, likely exceeding Trump’s term in office.
• Prominent figures like Laura Loomer, Ben Shapiro, and Senators Ted Cruz and Rick Scott have raised concerns about espionage risks and the appropriateness of accepting such a gift from a foreign government.
• Trump has defended the decision, dismissing critics as ‘fools’ and likening the jet to historic foreign gifts, while the Department of Justice examines its legality under the Emoluments Clause.