A final agreement regarding the “donation” of a luxury jet from Qatar to be used as Air Force One is expected within the next week.
When the “gift” was first announced, many experts predicted retrofitting the plane to Air Force One standards – basically a secure communication center in the sky – could cost as much as $1 billion and take years to complete.
There was also mention that the plane is expected to be handed over to Trump’s presidential library foundation following his departure from the White House, which many say would ultimately make the jet a gift to Trump.
The U.S. government and Qatar are expected to finalize an agreement next week involving a jet for use as Air Force One, months after the Pentagon first said that such a deal was complete, multiple people familiar with the matter said. https://t.co/I33ZQ5mJwM
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 26, 2025
From the Washington Post:
According to official communication reviewed by The Washington Post, Qatar will send the Boeing 747-8 aircraft as an unconditional “donation” to the Department of Defense, which will then be responsible for its maintenance.
Finishing the agreement will allow the U.S. Air Force to begin renovating the plane for use as Air Force One, a process that may cost hundreds of millions of dollars and could take years.
It also does not restrict how the plane may be used in the future, except to say that it must comply with U.S. law.
The Qatari government had wanted the document to specify that the plane would remain in the custody of the U.S. Air Force, but the language was removed during negotiations after the American side objected, the source said.
Donald Trump is said to be frustrated with delays in Boeing delivering two additional jets purchased during his first term as prez meant to serve as Air Force Ones which may not be ready until 2029.
Even Trump’s former veep, Mike Pence, has denounced the “gift”as “inconsistent with our security, with our intelligence needs.”
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