Trump’s Acceptance of Qatari Boeing 747 for Air Force One Sparks Legal and Ethical Backlash

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has officially accepted a luxury Boeing 747 aircraft from Qatar on behalf of the United States for use as Air Force One, the Pentagon confirmed Wednesday, amid escalating concerns over the ethics and constitutionality of receiving such a gift from a foreign government.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated the Defense Department will “work to ensure proper security measures” are implemented to retrofit the aircraft for presidential use. “The plane was accepted in accordance with all federal rules and regulations,” Parnell added.

President Donald Trump, who discussed the gift during his recent Middle East trip, defended the move as a cost-saving measure for American taxpayers. “Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE,” Trump wrote on his social media platform.

However, critics argue the acceptance of the aircraft—a lavishly outfitted 747 often described as a “palace in the sky”—violates the U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits federal officials from receiving gifts from foreign states. The action has prompted strong reactions from Democrats and raised concerns among some of Trump's Republican allies.

Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) criticized the decision in a Senate hearing, stating, “Far from saving money, this unconstitutional action will not only cost our nation its dignity, but it will force taxpayers to waste over 1 billion in taxpayer dollars to overhaul this particular aircraft when we currently have not one, but two fully operational and fully capable Air Force One aircraft.”

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told lawmakers that Defense Secretary Hegseth has directed the service to begin planning for significant upgrades to the aircraft to meet presidential standards. The Air Force later confirmed it is preparing to award a classified contract for the necessary modifications.

Trump responded to questions about the aircraft during a meeting in the Oval Office with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. “They are giving the United States Air Force a jet,” Trump said. “Not to me, to the United States Air Force, so they could help us out.” He also noted delays in Boeing’s delivery of new Air Force One jets currently under construction.

Ramaphosa, addressing the exchange, remarked, “I’m sorry I don’t have a plane to give you.” Trump replied, “If your country was offering the United States Air Force a plane, I would take it.”

Despite insisting the aircraft is for U.S. military use and not a personal benefit, Trump has attempted to deflect criticism by suggesting the plane would eventually be displayed in a presidential library after his term ends—mirroring the retired Boeing 707 used by President Ronald Reagan.

To date, no national security justification has been presented for accepting the Qatari jet instead of awaiting the completion of the existing Air Force One replacement project.