Qatar-Gifted Air Force One’s Future Grows Unclear—As Trump Library Plans Fall Into Doubt

Aug 06, 2026 06:34 AM - 1 day ago 57

Topline

A Qatar-donated Boeing pitchy talented to and utilized by President Donald Trump arsenic a impermanent Air Force One whitethorn nary longer beryllium headed to his statesmanlike library, astatine slightest for now, according to aggregate reports, pinch Eric Trump telling NBC News location are different plans for the aircraft.

The pitchy was acquired by the U.S. authorities past year.

Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images

Key Facts

An unnamed White House charismatic told The New York Times that location is nary last determination astir whether the level will spell to the statesmanlike room planned for building successful Miami, which is wherever the president initially said the pitchy would spell aft his word ends.

Eric Trump told NBC News earlier this week it was “not the scheme astatine the moment” to shop the Qatari pitchy successful the library.

President Trump antecedently considered decommissioning 1 of the 2 older Air Force One jets truthful it could beryllium displayed astatine the library, according to the Times, which noted it was unclear if that plan, which besides progressive displaying the Qatari jet, was still being considered.

The Qatari level is owned by the U.S. authorities and would request to beryllium designated arsenic excess spot to beryllium donated aliases transferred to an extracurricular property.

Big Number

$400 million. That is really overmuch the level is worth. However, security overhauls and different upgrades made to the craft are expected to summation its worth by hundreds of millions of dollars.

Key Background

The U.S. authorities accepted the pitchy from Qatar past twelvemonth successful a highly arguable and unprecedented move, arsenic it is different for overseas leaders to supply specified a costly gift for statesmanlike use. The woody sparked bipartisan backlash, pinch critics pointing to a clause successful the Constitution prohibiting national officials from accepting important gifts from overseas governments without the support of Congress. However, a 1990 statute allowed the Pentagon to judge contributions for defense programs, which is why the Qatari level is owned by the Department of Defense and not Trump personally. Still, immoderate lawmakers, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., and Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., person likened the gift to a “blatant bribe.” Trump concisely utilized the pitchy successful early July to be a NATO acme successful Turkey. The president returned to the U.S. successful the older Air Force One exemplary aft the Secret Service reportedly advised him to make the move complete information precautions, uncovering the caller level did not person each the defense features of the original. The pitchy is undergoing upgrades arsenic Boeing useful to present 2 caller Air Force One planes, though the statement has not gone according to plan and costs the shaper hundreds of millions of dollars.