The Pentagon has formally accepted a Boeing 747 gifted by the Qatari government as a potential replacement for Air Force One, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced Wednesday.
Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed receipt of the $400 million jet dubbed a “flying palace” that was floated as a replacement for the aging Air Force One in a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation. The Trump administration’s position is that receiving the jet is legal and acceptable, while some Democrats have called the deal a potential national security threat, and others have suggested that the gift may represent an attempt by Qatar to curry favor with the White House.
“The secretary of defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in his statement to the DCNF. “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.”
President Donald Trump announced his intent to accept the luxury jet in a May 11 post shared on Truth Social. Trump had expressed frustration at the continued delays from Boeing on delivering the new Air Force One, which the manufacturer has delayed at least until 2029.
The Trump administration reportedly commissioned defense contractor L3 Harris to provide the upgrades, with the goal of making the aircraft worthy of the presidential seal by the end of the year, The Wall Street Journal reported on May 1.
Substantial upgrades would be needed to allow the president to fly inside, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said Tuesday while testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“Any civilian aircraft will take significant modifications to do so,” Meink said. “Based on the secretary’s direction, we are postured and we’re off looking at that right now, what it’s going to take for that particular aircraft.”
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