The U.S. Department of Defense has formally accepted a lavish Boeing 747 from the Qatari royal family, setting the stage for the aircraft to be converted into a temporary Air Force One. The aircraft—dubbed a “flying palace” due to its ultra-luxurious interior—had already sparked controversy when its Qatari origins became public earlier this year.
Previously covered by Aviation24.be, the aircraft in question is a high-spec Boeing 747-8i originally outfitted for the Qatari Emir’s use, but which remained largely unused. Qatar offered the jet to the United States free of charge. While former President Donald Trump praised the gift as a “great gesture,” critics in Washington are calling it a potential diplomatic minefield.
The U.S. Constitution prohibits officeholders from accepting gifts from foreign states, and opposition lawmakers have decried the acceptance as “pure corruption.” Despite this, Trump defended the move on his platform Truth Social, noting the jet’s $200 million value and suggesting Democrats are only upset because “we didn’t pay for it.”
Currently, the aircraft is undergoing a thorough inspection and adaptation process to meet presidential and military standards. The transformation is expected to take significant time and a lot of money – an estimate $1 billion, given the aircraft was not originally built for such a role.
As previously reported, the U.S. Air Force’s current VC-25As—based on older Boeing 747-200B models—have been in service since the early 1990s and are overdue for replacement. Two new 747-8s were ordered during Trump’s first term, but delivery delays have prompted the search for an interim solution.
Qatar to gift Trump a VIP Boeing 747-8 as interim Air Force One