Pentagon takes $400 million plane donation from Qatar as Trump's new Air Force One, raising security and ethics concerns

Trump publicly set his hopes that the plane will be available for presidential use by the end of 2025. But defence officials and air force experts warn that target is extremely ambitious. Repainting the jet in presidential colours might take six months alone, and installing secure communications and missile defence systems may take years to do.

"He's getting something much less than Air Force One," said Frank Kendall, the Biden administration's Air Force Secretary. "It's a terrible idea for a lot of reasons."

The plane will be subject to "modest modifications" in order to satisfy minimum security and communications standards. Those who are familiar with the undertaking say that it may not be possible in a timely manner—or possibly even at all—to retrofit the plane to the Air Force One's full command-and-control standards.

Security and legal concerns pile up

The use of a foreign-donated plane for the President's travel has caused a storm of national security and constitutional issues. Many have questioned that even with rigorous retrofitting, a foreign plane cannot be entirely trusted secure. Schumer referred to it as a "gamble no one should be willing to take."

There can never be 100% assurance that the plane is safe," he cautioned, pointing out that altering the aircraft could prove more expensive than the value of the plane.

Schumer this week introduced legislation that would prevent the Defense Department from using taxpayer funds to retro-fit any foreign plane for presidential use. He also promised to hold up all political Justice Department nominees until complete information about the agreement are released.

The gift's legality is also being questioned. According to the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the US Constitution, federal officials are prohibited from accepting foreign government gifts without Congress's approval. Lawyers such as Columbia Law Professor Richard Briffault indicate that the transaction might be unconstitutional unless the aircraft is explicitly a gift to America—not Trump himself.

White House defends the move

Trump justified the agreement in comments at the White House, describing it as "a very nice thing." As newer Air Force One jets are years overdue and billions of dollars over budget, Trump said the Qatari airplane is a sensible alternative.

If your nation gave the United States Air Force an airplane, I would accept it," Trump said to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who replied with a chuckle, "I'm sorry I don't have an airplane to give you."

The Justice Department is said to have signed off on the plan in a memo led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, a department spokesperson said.

A first-of-its-kind arrangement

The Qatari plane is in sharp contrast to those planes which have been traditionally used by US presidents. Since the days of President Eisenhower, Air Force One has been a specially adapted, domestic-made plane representing American industrial prowess and autonomy. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library purchased an erstwhile Air Force One years after retirement with no foreign government involvement.

This time around, the Trump administration has hired defence contractor L3 Harris to refit the plane. Boeing, which was awarded a $3.9 billion fixed-price contract in Trump's first term to construct two new Air Force One aircraft, has encountered numerous delays, cost overruns, and production problems. The new Boeing planes are now going to be years late.

A symbolic pivot with murky consequences

If the Qatari planes go on active duty this year, they will be the most publicly prominent expression of the Trump presidency's departure from precedent. But with costs, readiness, and constitutionality still in question, critics say the short-term solution will have a long-term cost—both to US security and to the traditions that have long characterized the presidency.