Defense Secretary Hegseth Approves Qatar’s Aircraft Gift as Trump Defends Deal on Truth Social
- The Pentagon has formally accepted a Boeing 747-8 jet from the State of Qatar.
- The plane will be retrofitted for use in transporting President Trump.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the aircraft under federal regulations.
- President Trump defended the gift as a cost-saving move, but legal experts and lawmakers raised constitutional concerns.
The United States has accepted a Boeing 747 aircraft gifted by Qatar for the purpose of transporting President Donald Trump, drawing mixed reactions across Washington. On Wednesday, the Department of Defense confirmed the transfer, stating the aircraft was received in compliance with U.S. regulations.
According to The New York Times, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth accepted the Boeing 747 “in accordance with all federal rules and regulations.” Parnell added, “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.”
— President Donald J. Trump on Truth Social
The gift, reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars, has raised bipartisan scrutiny over its implications for U.S. law and policy. Critics argue that the donation could conflict with the U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which restricts government officials from accepting gifts from foreign states without congressional approval.
The aircraft will require substantial retrofitting to meet the rigorous security and communications standards of presidential aircraft. Pentagon officials noted that the Boeing 747-8 will not be operational for presidential use until fully modified with encrypted systems, countermeasures, and other mission-specific upgrades.
Officials estimate that the aircraft’s retrofitting process will take up to 18 months. Once completed, it could serve as an interim or backup Air Force One, supplementing the aging fleet while newer replacements are still in production.
Trump, facing criticism over the acceptance of the plane, wrote the following on Truth Social last week:
“Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE from a country that wants to reward us for a job well done. This big savings will be spent, instead, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country.”
(with reporting from The New York Times)
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