Treating the aircraft as safe for the commander in chief with just a few modifications is "absurd," one former senior defense official said.

The nation of Qatar offered the Trump administration a Boeing 747-8 for use as Air Force One. Trump called the plane a "gift," in a post on his social media site, Truth Social. A representative of the administration clarified that Qatar "has offered to donate a plane to the Department of Defense," not to Trump himself.

President Donald Trump thinks it would be “stupid” to turn down a free airplane from Qatar. However, some experts have already warned that the plane could end up costing billions to retrofit and maintain.

President Trump criticized the current Air Force One as outdated and undersized, defended accepting a luxury 747-8 from Qatar, and lamented delays in the delivery of the new presidential aircraft.

President Trump’s confirmation that the United States may accept a presidential aircraft gifted from Qatar marked the latest escalation in his clash with Boeing.

President Donald Trump defended Qatar gifting the U.S. a jet to use as Air Force One as the new fleet is still under construction.

Donald Trump may soon receive a $400 million Boeing 747-8, dubbed a "flying palace," from Qatar, potentially circumventing constitutional restrictions on foreign gifts. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly devised a plan involving the US Air Force temporarily owning the jet before transferring it to Trump's presidential library foundation.