Former U.S. President Donald Trump has staunchly defended the decision to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 aircraft gifted by Qatar, stating it would be financially irresponsible to reject such an offer. Trump emphasized that the aircraft, valued at approximately $400 million, will serve as a temporary replacement for the aging Air Force One while new presidential planes, which are delayed, are still in production.
Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump clarified that the aircraft is not a personal gift but one intended for the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense. “The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defence, NOT TO ME!” he wrote. “It is a gift from a nation, Qatar, that we have successfully defended for many years.”
Trump stressed the potential savings for taxpayers, arguing that accepting the plane would avoid the unnecessary expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars. “Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for free from a country that wants to reward us for a job well done,” he said. “Only a fool would not accept this gift on behalf of our country.”
The Hill reported that the aircraft was offered by Qatar’s royal family, and its market value is estimated at $400 million. Trump previously remarked that only a “stupid person” would refuse such a deal, underscoring his belief that the move is a pragmatic one with substantial financial benefit.
Trump also accused Democrats of politicizing the issue. “So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a gift, free of charge, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40-year-old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay top dollar for the plane,” Trump posted. “The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA.”
Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the legal framework for accepting the aircraft is being finalized. She assured that any donation to the U.S. government would be handled according to legal procedures. “Any donation to this government is always done in full compliance with the law,” Leavitt said, as reported by CNN.
As the legal formalities continue, the controversy surrounding the gifted aircraft underscores the political tensions over national spending and foreign diplomacy, with Trump turning what might have been a low-key transaction into a high-profile talking point in his continued bid to galvanize support.