In a move stirring both intrigue and controversy, the United States has formally accepted an “unconditional donation” from Qatar of a Boeing 747-8 aircraft, valued at approximately $400 million. The aircraft, which was previously used by the Qatari royal family, has been designated for use by the Trump administration and will later be transferred to President Donald Trump after he leaves office.
The memorandum of understanding outlining the gift was signed earlier this month by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his Qatari counterpart, according to a report by ABC News. The agreement explicitly states that the aircraft is a “bona fide gift” to the U.S. Department of Defense, and that the U.S. government will not pay anything for the plane.
“This donation is made in good faith and in the spirit of cooperation and mutual support between the parties,” the memorandum declares. “Nothing in this [memorandum of understanding] is, or shall be interpreted or construed as, an offer, promise, or acceptance of any form of bribery, undue influence, or corrupt practice.”
It further emphasizes that the gift “is not connected or otherwise related to any governmental decision and, as such, is not made, offered, promised or accepted because of any past, present or future official act or decision and is not intended to obtain or retain any improper advantage or to influence any official decision.”
While the White House did not respond to a request for comment from The Daily Beast, and the Defense Department declined to elaborate, the news has sparked criticism from across the political spectrum.
The announcement in May initially drew skepticism, including from Trump’s own former vice president, Mike Pence. Critics have questioned whether the deal is truly “free,” particularly given President Trump’s well-known transactional style during his term in office.
Concerns have also been raised over the potential cost of retrofitting the aircraft to Air Force One standards. Aviation analysts estimate the price tag could exceed $1 billion. According to The New York Times, the Pentagon recently redirected a similar amount of funding toward a classified project, part of which may go toward upgrading the newly gifted aircraft.
During a June Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the plane will ultimately be handed over to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. This raised additional concerns among lawmakers.
“Why would we ask the American taxpayer to spend upwards of $1 billion on a plane that would then only be used for a handful of months and then transfer directly to the president?” asked Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut. “That doesn’t sound like a wise use of taxpayer dollars.”