The Blubber

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has formally accepted a donated Boeing 747 from Qatar, intended for use by former President Donald Trump as Air Force One, the Pentagon announced Wednesday.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that the Department of Defense will implement all necessary security upgrades to make the aircraft suitable for presidential use. He emphasized that the donation was received “in line with all applicable federal laws and regulations.”

Trump, who reportedly arranged the handover during a recent visit to the Middle East, defended the decision as a fiscally responsible move.

“Why should taxpayers cover hundreds of millions of dollars for a new plane when we can get one for FREE?” Trump posted on his social media platform during the trip.

However, the move has drawn criticism from legal and policy experts, who argue it may run afoul of the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which bars federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval. Critics have also highlighted the potential costs and delays involved in retrofitting the aircraft to meet presidential security standards.

Speaking from the Oval Office during a meeting with South Africa’s president, Trump downplayed the concerns. “They’re giving the U.S. Air Force a jet,” he said.

Despite his endorsement of the gift, Trump has not offered a clear national security rationale for urgently accepting the aircraft, rather than waiting for the specially modified Air Force One jets currently being developed by Boeing—a process that has been underway for several years.