Discussions are underway between the White House and the Qatari royal family over a luxury jet that may temporarily join the U.S. presidential aircraft fleet, Air Force One, according to a report by the BBC on Monday, May 12.
In a statement, the Qatari government clarified that the aircraft is not being offered as a gift, but rather being considered for temporary use by the United States.
CBS News reported that the jet may eventually be donated to former President Donald Trump’s presidential library after his term. Trump is scheduled to visit Qatar this week as part of his first major foreign trip in his second term.
Qatar’s media attaché in the U.S., Ali Al-Ansari, said that discussions between the Qatari Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense are ongoing. The matter is currently being reviewed by legal departments of both countries, and no final decision has been reached yet.
According to CBS News, the aircraft is not immediately ready for deployment. It would require restructuring and a full security review before it could be used.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that any gift from a foreign government is accepted only after following all applicable legal procedures. She added that the Trump administration is committed to maintaining full transparency in the matter.
However, in a post on his Truth Social platform, President Trump referred to the jet as a “gift,” claiming it is being provided for his use at no cost. He said that the Department of Defense is receiving a Boeing 747, which will temporarily replace the aging Air Force One fleet.
Currently, the U.S. presidential fleet includes two Boeing 747-200B aircraft, which have been in service since 1990 and 1991. The jet under discussion is a Boeing 747-8 model, often referred to as a “flying palace” due to its luxurious features.
Although Boeing has already signed a deal to deliver two new Air Force One jets to the U.S., Trump has accused the company of failing to meet its deadlines. This has led to the ongoing discussions with Qatar as an alternative solution.
During Trump’s first term, diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Qatar were notably positive. In 2019, Qatar announced a major purchase of American military aircraft. Previously, in 2018, Qatar had gifted a luxury jet to Turkey, demonstrating a history of such high-profile gestures.
