US accepts Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar to be Trump's presidential plane
The United States government has officially accepted a Boeing 747-8 VIP donated by Qatar, which will be temporarily used as the new presidential plane by Donald Trump, should he return to the White House.
The information was confirmed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, according to reports from several outlets. The aircraft would be in compliance with federal regulations, according to officials.
The decision caused strong political repercussions, both because it involved a gift from a foreign government and because of the possibility of personal use by a former president.
The aircraft is currently at San Antonio International Airport in Texas, awaiting the start of modifications to transform it into a functional version of Air Force One.
$400 million jet
The Boeing 747-8 in question, registered as P4-HBJ, was originally delivered to Qatar Amiri Flight — the emirate’s VIP aviation division — in 2012. With a high-end interior, the four-engine aircraft was configured with suites, offices, rest areas and meeting rooms, designed by the French studio Cabinet Alberto Pinto.
The aircraft is valued at around US$400 million and has only a few flight hours, and is in excellent condition.
Despite the luxury on board, the aircraft is still far from meeting the security and operational requirements of a true Air Force One.
It needs to be equipped with encrypted communications systems, missile protection, electronic shielding against electromagnetic pulses and presidential command and control infrastructure.
Experts estimate that these modifications could take years and cost hundreds of millions of additional dollars.
The intention would be to use it as a temporary solution, since the two new presidential 747-8s ordered by the Air Force, designated as VC-25B, are only expected to be ready in 2029.
However, Boeing has reportedly committed to delivering at least one aircraft in 2027, but it will be incomplete.
Constitutional controversy
The case has generated criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. Legal experts and congressmen have pointed out possible violations of the Emoluments Clause of the US Constitution, which prohibits federal authorities from accepting gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval.
Investigations by the US press indicate that Trump’s advisors have actively sought out the Qatari government to obtain the plane, first through a purchase or leasing proposal, until they reached a formal donation.
For Trump and his allies, the idea is clear: to use the jet as an alternative to the new presidential planes that will only be ready at the end of the decade. For critics, this is an emblematic case of conflict of interests and breaking of institutional precedents.
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Ricardo Meier
Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.
