The US defense department has confirmed that it has accepted a Boeing 747 jetliner gifted by Qatar, intended for use as a future Air Force One for US President Donald Trump. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement on Wednesday that the plane was accepted “in accordance with all federal rules and regulations.” The aircraft is now being assessed for security upgrades to meet presidential transport requirements.According to The New York Times, the aircraft, estimated to be worth $200 million, requires significant modifications before it can securely carry the president. Air Force secretary Troy Meink admitted during Senate testimony, “Any civilian aircraft will take significant modifications… We’re off looking at that right now.”Concerns are mounting in Congress over the potential for rushed retrofitting under political pressure. Senator Tammy Duckworth warned that fast-tracking upgrades could risk bypassing critical security protocols, including missile defence systems and shielding against nuclear electromagnetic pulses.The issue has also sparked constitutional debate. As per AFP, the US Constitution’s Emoluments Clause prohibits officials from accepting gifts from foreign states. While the Pentagon insists the acceptance followed legal procedures, critics argue that allowing a foreign-donated jet for presidential use violates foundational norms.Trump has pushed back against the criticism. “It’s a great gesture,” he told reporters, adding, “I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer… I mean, I could be a stupid person and say ‘no.’”However, Senate Democrats are moving to block the aircraft’s use. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer introduced the Presidential Airlift Security Act, which would prohibit using taxpayer funds to retrofit any plane previously owned by a foreign government. “Not only would it take billions… but there’s absolutely no amount of modifications that can guarantee it will be secure,” Schumer stated, as reported by AFP.Trump, during a recent Oval Office appearance with South Africa’s president, defended the move by saying, “They are giving the United States Air Force a jet,” reported AP. He also posted online that it would save taxpayer money: “Why should our military… be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for free.”Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani denied that the gift was aimed at influencing Trump. “It’s a two-way relationship,” he said, as per The New York Times. “Anything we provide… it’s out of respect for this partnership.”Despite some Republican backing, several GOP lawmakers have raised red flags over security risks and the optics of accepting such a gift from a foreign power. With seven-figure retrofitting costs and deepening bipartisan scrutiny, the plane’s future as Air Force One remains in question.
