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The Pentagon has finalized an agreement with Qatar to accept a donated Boeing jet that could serve as a future Air Force One, a move supported by President Donald Trump but criticized by lawmakers concerned about cost and ethics.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani signed a memorandum of understanding on July 7. The document outlines the “unconditional donation” of a 13-year-old luxury aircraft previously used by Qatar’s royal family.
According to multiple reports, the memorandum describes the plane as a “bona fide gift” to the U.S. Department of Defense, requiring no payment from the United States.
“This donation is made in good faith and in the spirit of cooperation and mutual support between the parties,” the document states, as reported by CNN.
“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 added.
The agreement also notes that the donation is not tied to any government action. It emphasizes that the gift is not “connected or otherwise related to any governmental decision” and is not intended “to obtain or retain any improper advantage or to influence any official decision.”
The Department of Defense announced on May 21 that it had accepted the aircraft, though final terms and signatures were not completed until weeks later. The deal is expected to be formally concluded in the coming days.
Trump, who first revealed the donation ahead of his May trip to the Middle East, has promoted the jet as a necessary addition to the Air Force One fleet. The two Boeing 747s currently assigned to presidential service are undergoing extensive refurbishment, a project that began during his previous term and has faced continued delays.
The upgrades will involve major structural changes and the installation of classified communications and defensive systems. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink estimated that the retrofit would cost “less than $400 million.” However, independent defense analysts have suggested the final cost could be up to $1 billion.
To cover the expense, the Air Force is expected to reallocate funds from the Sentinel missile modernization program to a classified initiative widely believed to be tied to the Air Force One upgrade. The plane is currently located in San Antonio, Texas.