The aircraft was formally accepted by the Pentagon following a recent diplomatic visit to the Middle East. According to the Department of Defense, the plane will have considerable modification before being used to transport the president of the United States. The renovations are necessary to meet national security standards and accommodate executive-level operations abroad the aircraft.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the transfer on May 21, stating that the aircraft was accepted “by all federal rules and regulations.” He noted that the Defense Department would ensure the plane meets all mission-specific and security requirements for presidential transport.
The gesture has drawn strong criticism from Congress, especially from Senate Democrats. Senator Jack Reed, a key member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he is worried about accepting such a valuable gift from a foreign country without getting approval from Congress first. He is now asking for an official investigation to see if this broke any constitutional rules about taking gifts from foreign governments.
Reed also raised an issue about the high cost and long timeline required to retrofit the jet with advanced counterintelligence and surveillance protections, suggesting that the process could take years and come with a significant price tag.
The U.S. Air Force acknowledged plans to award a classified contract to begin the aircraft’s transformation for executive airlift duties but did not provide further specifics. The current Air Force One fleet, made up of older Boeing 747 models, is already facing delays in scheduled upgrades and replacements.
In a joint press appearance on May 21 with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, President Donald Trump dismissed concerns about the aircraft, characterizing critical media reports as “fake news.” He emphasized that the gift would benefit the United States military and praised the Qatari offer.
President Ramaphosa responded light-heartedly, telling Trump, “I’m sorry I don’t have a plane to give you,” drawing laughter from both leaders.
It has also been noted that President Trump intends for the jet to become part of his presidential library collection once his term in office concludes, though details around the plan remain unclear.
