When people heard that Qatar was giving Donald Trump a luxury Boeing 747 jet, it sounded like a big deal. Trump made it sound even bigger by saying the U.S. would save money and finally get a proper Air Force One without waiting years. But the truth is not so shiny. The plane is old and used and has been sitting on the market unsold since 2020.
The aircraft in question is a Boeing 747-8. It once belonged to Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, the former Prime Minister of Qatar. Delivered in 2012, the plane was luxurious, costing over $367 million before the high-end interior was added. It has silk fabrics, bedrooms, and meeting rooms and can carry up to 89 passengers. But here’s the catch—it has only flown 1,069 hours in total, according to aviation blogger Ben Schlappig. That’s less than two hours per week. This plane has mostly been sitting around.
Qatar tried to sell this plane for years with no luck. Even Forbes confirmed that no one wanted it. Qatar once gave a similar unsold jet to Turkey’s President Erdoğan after it failed to sell. Now, they’re doing the same thing with Trump. It doesn’t take a genius to ask: is this really about generosity or just a fancy way to offload an old plane?
Trump, of course, jumped on Truth Social to defend the “gift.” He wrote:
“The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defense, NOT TO ME!… Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE…”
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Sounds noble, right? But experts are not buying it.
John Goglia, a former member of the National Transportation Safety Board, explained to Forbes that giving away the plane helps Qatar avoid expensive upkeep. Maintaining it is becoming more difficult as fewer technicians are trained to handle that type of aircraft. So, while it may seem generous, the real savings are for Qatar, not the United States.
And here’s another thing: To use this jet as Air Force One, it would need massive upgrades—secure communication systems, defense equipment, nuclear shielding, and more. That means even though the plane is free, making it ready for presidential use would cost taxpayers a lot anyway—probably hundreds of millions.
This brings us to the big problem—ethics. Is it right for a U.S. president to accept such a significant gift from a foreign government? Many lawmakers say it looks wrong and could even break the law. The U.S. Constitution has a rule called the Emoluments Clause. It says that a president cannot take gifts from foreign countries unless Congress agrees first.
Pam Bondi, one of Trump’s allies, is also under scrutiny for having close ties to Qatar and possibly helping arrange this “gift.” This has added more heat to the scandal, with people asking if personal deals are being made behind the scenes.
Featured image via Screengrab
