President Donald Trump has accepted a Boeing 747 jet from the government of Qatar, which the Pentagon confirmed will be retrofitted for temporary use as Air Force One while Boeing's official presidential fleet remains delayed and over budget.
"The Secretary of Defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations," Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated Wednesday. "The Department of Defense will work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered for an aircraft used to transport the President of the United States."
Troy Meink, the Secretary of the Air Force, said in Senate testimony that the Air Force is "postured" to begin modifications. An Air Force official added that a classified contract will be awarded to bring the Qatari aircraft up to presidential security standards.
The announcement triggered swift bipartisan concern. "Trump cannot accept a $400 million flying palace from the royal family of Qatar. Not only is this farcically corrupt, it is blatantly unconstitutional," said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, warned that the aircraft could pose "significant espionage and surveillance problems."
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., cited national security worries, noting that "Qatar is not, in my opinion, a great ally. I mean, they support Hamas. So what I'm worried about is the safety of the president."
Asked about the criticism, Trump dismissed the concerns. "They're giving the United States Air Force a jet, okay, and it's a great thing," he told a reporter before accusing them of being a "terrible reporter."
On Truth Social, Trump defended the arrangement, saying, "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..."
