Preparations under way for Qatari jet that will be used as Air Force One
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Qatari Jet Gifted for Air Force One Ready for Refitting
Above: U.S. President Donald Trump and Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al Thani attend a signing ceremony on May 14, 2025, in Doha. Image copyright: Win McNamee/Getty Images
The Spin
Anti-Trump narrative
When he agreed to this shady deal, the president claimed that the jet was free and he would be insane for turning it down. Well, even if it was free, it still would've brought up legal and ethical issues about taking gifts from other nations. But now it turns out U.S. taxpayers could be on the hook for around a billion dollars to turn this plane into a luxury toy — making the deal even worse.
Pro-Trump narrative
Democrats and critics in the media are desperate to find a scandal to pin on Trump, even if it means manufacturing outrage. Trump's willingness to take a jet from the Qataris is a rational, cost-saving decision made without strings attached in order to make up for the slow refurbishment of other jets. This American-made jet is a donation to the U.S. military, which will conduct all the necessary safety checks during the refitting.
Editor's Note
This story currently has limited reporting from right-leaning sources. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our coverage as additional perspectives become available.