Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has accepted a Boeing 747 aircraft from Qatar on behalf of the Pentagon, which will be modified to meet the operational and security needs for transporting President Donald Trump. The aircraft transfer, announced by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, is part of a defense-to-defense agreement between Qatar and the United States. While the Defense Department confirmed the acceptance, a source familiar with the matter noted that the deal has not been fully finalized and discussions between legal teams are ongoing. Trump has praised the acquisition on his social media platform, describing it as a &ldquoGIFT, FREE OF CHARGE.&rdquo

Despite Trump&rsquos claims, CNN reports that it was actually the Trump administration that initiated the request to acquire the aircraft from Qatar. After learning that new Air Force One replacements from Boeing would not be ready for two more years, the Trump team sought faster alternatives. The Air Force and Trump&rsquos Middle East envoy identified the Qatari-owned 747 as a viable option. The Air Force was initially led to believe the deal would be a purchase, not a donation. The current plan includes retrofitting the jet to meet presidential security and communications standards, a complex process that could take two years and cost significantly more than the plane itself.The proposed deal has triggered bipartisan scrutiny, with both Democrats and some Republican lawmakers raising ethical and legal concerns.

The proposed deal has triggered bipartisan scrutiny, with both Democrats and some Republican lawmakers raising ethical and legal concerns. Critics argue that accepting a jet from a foreign government&mdasheven a close ally&mdashposes serious conflicts of interest, especially if the arrangement is portrayed as a donation. Retrofitting the aircraft presents major logistical challenges, as U.S. intelligence and defense agencies would need to strip it down and rebuild it to ensure compliance with the strict standards of presidential air travel. The controversy has added political pressure to what was intended as a fast-track solution to replace aging Air Force One planes.