Trump touts Qatar’s “free and expensive” jet—but it could cost U.S. taxpayers hundreds of millions
What former President Donald Trump calls a "free and very expensive plane" gifted by Qatar’s royal family may end up being a major burden on U.S. taxpayers, according to a report by Politico that unpacks the technical and political complications of using the aircraft as a temporary Air Force One.
A gift with fine print
The Qatari government is reportedly in talks with the White House to transfer a luxury Boeing 747-8, formerly owned by Qatar’s royal family, to the U.S. Department of Defense, which would oversee its adaptation. But far from being ready for presidential use, the aircraft would require a complete overhaul—from electrical and communication systems to armor and defensive technology.
Former U.S. Air Force officials cited by Politico estimate that modifying the plane to meet presidential standards could cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and all without any allocated funding.
For Democratic Congressman Joe Courtney, the matter is straightforward: "You’d basically have to strip the plane down and rebuild it," he said, emphasizing the scale of the technical and financial challenge.
Trump, for his part, has defended the offer as a "great gesture from Qatar" and dismissed Democratic critics as "world-class losers" on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Operating costs and resource competition
Beyond the cost of retrofitting, maintaining a presidential aircraft is incredibly expensive. Each VC-25B, the next-generation Air Force One currently under development by Boeing, carries a price tag of over $2.5 billion, with projected operating costs of $7.7 billion over 30 years.
Former official Kevin Buckley warned that retrofitting the Qatari jet could divert resources from the already delayed official Air Force One program. “It’s a very limited team with high-level security clearances,” he said, referring to the specialized workforce required for the project.
The proposal has drawn skepticism and criticism in Congress. Representative Rick Larsen called the deal a "corrupt negotiation" and said it was an attempt to distract from deeper issues with the current Air Force One program.
Moreover, accepting a foreign gift without Congressional approval could violate the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
The contract for the new presidential aircraft was signed in 2018 for $3.9 billion, following cost-cutting negotiations led by Trump himself. However, delays and cost overruns have plagued the program, pushing the estimated delivery date to 2027.
Amid these challenges, Trump has hinted that his administration might "look for another plane," and the Qatar offer has surfaced as a potential alternative—though one that comes with hidden costs and political risks.
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