Qatar gifts Trump new plane ‘free of charge’ to serve as Air Force One

Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday night, framing it as a win for taxpayers and a loss for political opponents, “So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40-year-old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane,” Trump wrote. “Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that any foreign gift “is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws” and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to transparency.

Trump is expected to meet with leaders in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates during his trip to the Middle East this week.

ABC News reported that Trump was "poised to accept" the $400 million aircraft. However, Fox News reported that a White House official stated the offer has not been accepted, but did not say if it would be accepted at a later date.

The offer from Qatar comes amid Trump’s frustrations with Boeing’s repeated delays and cost overruns in producing the next generation of Air Force One planes. Originally commissioned during Trump's first term under a $3.9 billion contract, the new presidential aircraft are now billions over budget and reportedly won’t be ready until as late as 2035. This timeline likely means Trump wouldn’t fly on the new aircraft while he is still in office.

The Wall Street Journal reported that in February, the Department of Defense enlisted L3Harris Technologies, a defense contractor based in Melbourne, Florida, to retrofit a former Qatari-owned Boeing 747 with the specialized communication and security systems required for presidential use. Sources that spoke to the WSJ suggested the aircraft could be ready as soon as this fall, with Trump requesting regular updates and personally touring the plane in West Palm Beach, Florida, earlier this year.

Complicating matters further, Boeing's performance has prompted both past and present administrations to consider drastic alternatives. During the Biden administration, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall reportedly explored switching contractors or even using European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, a move that would have been unprecedented. There were even internal White House discussions during Trump’s first term about canceling Boeing’s contract or pursuing legal action due to chronic setbacks and complications, such as FAA certification delays and structural design flaws.

Elon Musk has also reportedly played a behind-the-scenes role in trying to accelerate Boeing’s progress on the aircraft. Musk allegedly made demands for technical project information even before Trump took office, leading to increased pressure on Boeing. Musk visited Boeing’s San Antonio facility and frequently contacted company officials. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg confirmed Musk was instrumental in reducing bureaucratic hurdles, saying he was able to "pretty quickly ascertain the difference between technical requirements and things that we can move out of the way."