The Qatari royal family gifted Trump a Boeing 747-8 valued at $400 million, referred to as the “flying palace,” earlier this year.
According to media reports, referencing sources from the Air Force, the luxury jet presented to US President Donald Trump by Qatar would likely require renovations costing $934 million or more.
The Qatari royal family gifted Trump a Boeing 747-8 valued at $400 million, referred to as the “flying palace,” earlier this year. This aircraft has been handed over to the Pentagon to function as Air Force One while the delivery of new Boeing planes is still delayed. Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his Qatari counterpart formalized an agreement for Qatar’s “unconditional donation.” Renovation work is expected to start in the upcoming weeks.
Although the official cost remains undisclosed, sources indicate that the Pentagon concealed the renovation funds within the Sentinel program – a comprehensive upgrade of the outdated Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system, which includes new launch facilities and communication systems. Reports from Air Force sources suggest that the Pentagon discreetly incorporated a $934 million transfer for the renovation of the Qatari jet into a document associated with the program that was recently submitted to Congress.
The transfer of the jet has ignited controversy and faced opposition from critics on ethical grounds. “The more we learn about this deal, the more disturbing it becomes,” said Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen. She cautioned about the “significant security implications” of accepting a foreign aircraft as Air Force One and condemned the reallocation of nuclear modernization funds for “a vanity project for President Trump.”
In June, US Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink informed Congress that he expected the renovation would cost less than $400 million. However, according to Air Force engineers, this estimate was not realistic, considering significant upgrades such as enhancements to communications, anti-missile systems, improvements to engines, the removal of suspected surveillance devices, and the additional “luxuries” requested by Trump.
In the defense of Qatari gift, Trump stated to reporters in May that he “would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer,” adding, “I could be a stupid person and say, ‘No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane’.”
