U.S. formally accepts luxury Jet from Qatar for Trump

$400 million luxury Boeing jet

The United States has officially accepted a luxury jet from Qatar to use as Air Force One, according to the Department of Defense.

“The secretary of defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations,” Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed to multiple outlets on Wednesday.

“The Department of Defense will work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered for an aircraft used to transport the president of the United States," he added.

President Donald Trump said "only a fool would not accept" the $400 million luxury Boeing jet from the Qatari government when he faced bipartisan backlash.

"The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defense, NOT TO ME!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. "It is a gift from a Nation, Qatar, that we have successfully defended for many years. It will be used by our Government as a temporary Air Force One, until such time as our new Boeings, which are very late on delivery, arrive. Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE from a country that wants to reward us for a job well done. This big savings will be spent, instead, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

The jet would require extensive modifications to meet the security and defense standards of Air Force One, potentially costing around $1 billion. Air Force One is outfitted with secure communications and defense systems, including weapons. It also would have to be able to withstand the potential impacts of a nuclear blast.

The proposal has been met with skepticism from both sides of the aisle in Congress. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, called it "an issue of outright bribery and a serious issue of national security."