Take a look inside President Donald Trump's new ultraluxurious jet, a $400 million Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar. From bedrooms and salons to private offices and even a playroom, this flying mansion is raising eyebrows in Washington β not just for its opulence, but for the controversy it's already sparking.
Karim JAAFAR / AFP
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the US Air Force to begin plans to convert a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet gifted to President Donald Trump by the Qatari royal family.
The plane is set to be used as part of Air Force One, but the development comes amid mounting concerns over the cost and ethical implications of accepting such a large gift from a foreign country.
"The Secretary of Defense has directed the Air Force to basically start planning to modify the aircraft," newly appointed Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told a Senate Armed Services committee hearing on Tuesday, per Defense One.
But Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth of Ilinois flagged the potential cost of converting the jet during the hearing, saying it could cost up to $1 billion to ensure it was capable of operating as part of the Air Force One fleet.
"Far from saving money, this unconstitutional action will not only cost our nation its dignity, but it will force taxpayers to waste over a billion dollars to overhaul this particular aircraft, when we currently have not one, but two, fully operational and fully capable Air Force One aircraft," Duckworth said.
Duckworth also expressed concerns that corners could be cut to get the plane into service before Trump's second term comes to an end.
Earlier this month, Trump announced that Qatar had gifted him the jet to serve as Air Force One. It is the most expensive gift to a US president in history.
"It's a great gesture from Qatar," Trump told reporters. "I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer. I mean, I could be a stupid person and say, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane.'"
However, accepting the gift has prompted a bipartisan backlash, with Democrats and some Republicans saying it violates long-standing rules about presidents accepting expensive gifts from foreign leaders.
In a press briefing on Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rebutted suggestions the plane was a gift to Trump, saying it had been donated to the US Air Force by the Qatari royal family and was being "retrofitted to the highest standards" to serve as an Air Force One plane.
She did not give details on how long the process would take.
Experts told NBC News last week that converting the plane to serve as Air Force One would involve installing multiple top-secret systems at an estimated cost of around $1 billion.
There are two planes operating as part of the Air Force One fleet, with Trump scrapping a contract for a new plane in his first term, before renegotiating it.
Boeing is currently contracted to convert two 747 jets to serve as part of the fleet, but the project has encountered delays, and the first plane isn't expected to be ready until 2027.
ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images
Qatar's prime minister doesn't understand the backlash over its offer of giving a Jumbo jet to the US.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called the proposed gift of a Boeing 747-8 jet, worth about $400 million, as "a normal thing that happens between allies."
"I don't know why people consider it as bribery or Qatar trying to buy influence with this administration," he said at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on Tuesday. The comments were reported by Bloomberg, which is hosting the event.
President Donald Trump said last week that his administration was preparing to accept the gift from the Qatari royal family.
The aircraft would be used as the new Air Force One in Trump's second term and then added to his presidential library.
Democrats as well as some Trump supporters have criticized the deal, voicing worries about its legality.
Trump defended the move, saying he would be a "stupid person" if he didn't accept it.
Sheikh Mohammed described the proposed gift as a Qatar "Ministry of Defense to Department of Defense transaction, which is done in full transparency and very legally."
"Many nations have gifted things to the US," he said, naming the Statue of Liberty as one.
Sheikh Mohammed added that "we need to overcome" stereotypes of Qatar trying to buy influence in the US.
Trump has said the jet would be a gift to the Department of Defense, not him personally.
The DoD did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
NBC
"Saturday Night Live" began its season finale by mocking the prospect of the Qatari royal family gifting a luxury jet to serve as Air Force One.
As his trip to the Middle East wrapped up on Saturday, Donald Trump used Truth Social to rail against ABC News for raising questions about his desire to accept a luxury $400 million plane from the Qatari government, as the replacement plane has been delayed.
In the SNL cold open, the show's Trump impersonator, James Austin Johnson, discussed his trip with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, played by Emil Wakim.
Johnson's Trump said that, while he participated in the trip "for the American people," he said: "I did very well on this trip. I got a lot of cool stuff."
"The Qataris gave me a $400 million plane, can you believe that? And people said that it was some sort of a bribe. Not true, not true. Because they haven't asked for anything in return."
"Well, not yet," Wakim's Prince Salman interjected.
Johnson's Trump responded: "So it's a pre-bribe. But now people are saying I should really be flying in an American plane. Ah, no thanks. Have you seen what is going on with our planes?"
He continued: "Since it's a finale, after tonight that means you won't be seeing me here for a while. Well, not the fake, fun version of me that makes you smile."
He added: "The real one will still be omnipresent. You can't escape me, right? I'm everywhere, even in your dreams, like the late, great Freddy Krueger."
In his Truth Social post, the real president insisted that the plane wouldn't be a gift to him, but to the Pentagon. The US Constitution forbids the president from accepting a gift from a foreign head of state without congressional approval.
"This highly respected country is donating the plane to the United States Air Force/ Defense Department, AND NOT TO ME," Trump wrote on Saturday, just before the "SNL" sketch aired.
Both Democrats and MAGA loyalists have criticized the proposed gift as ethically suspect, legally questionable, and a potential security risk.
If the deal goes through, Trump has said the aircraft would be temporarily used as Air Force One during his remaining time in office before being donated to his presidential library.
Qatar's media attachΓ© to the US, Ali Al-Ansari, told Business Insider in a statement on Wednesday that the transfer of the aircraft was "under consideration."
Al-Ansari said the matter "remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made."
Brian Snyder/REUTERS
Boeing showed it's bouncing back from its turmoil as it won several victories from Donald Trump's trip to the Middle East.
On Wednesday, Qatar Airways agreed to buy at least 160 Boeing jets, in a deal the White House valued at $96 billion. It is the planemaker's largest-ever order for wide-body aircraft.
While the two CEOs signed certificates and shook hands, Trump and the Emir of Qatar applauded from behind the ornate desk. The president gave Boeing's Kelly Ortberg a pat on the back.
It's rare to see heads of state attend aircraft-order ceremonies. Trump's show of support for Boeing was a notable turn from the tensions between the two over delays in building the next Air Force One.
Receiving such a huge vote of confidence from an industry-leading airline is also a significant boost, especially since the order includes 30 Boeing 777X planes and options for dozens more.
The 777X is yet to be certified, running years behind schedule, meaning Qatar's order is a big show of faith in Boeing's future. Flight tests for the 777X had to be paused last August after damage was found on a key structure.
LINDSEY WASSON/REUTERS
Several customers, including the largest, Emirates, voiced their frustrations after Ortberg then announced its launch would be further pushed back to 2026.
However, Qatar Airways has never dwelt on the delays. "Let us not cry over spilled milk," CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer told Business Insider last July.
Boeing is also likely to benefit from Tuesday's defense deal with Saudi Arabia, which the White House called "the largest defense-sales agreement in history," at roughly $142 billion.
These are all significant signs that the planemaker hasn't lost too much of its reputation after an ignominious 2024.
The year began with a door plug falling off a 737 Max in midair. Regulators subsequently capped Boeing's production as it works to overhaul its processes.
This week has seen progress here, too, as Boeing said it delivered 45 commercial planes last month β almost double the number in the same period last year.
Even before Qatar Airways' order, planes were dominating the headlines around Trump's trip.
The president said Monday he would be "stupid" to turn down the Qatari royal family's proposed gift of a Boeing 747.
It has raised ethical and legal concerns, with politicians on both sides of the aisle questioning the gift. The luxurious $400 million plane would be one of the most expensive gifts ever received by the government from another country.
The timing may also raise questions about Qatar's motivation for announcing the mammoth Boeing order during Trump's visit, rather than at next month's Paris Air Show.
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
Trump wants the 747 to serve as Air Force One because Boeing is running years behind schedule in building the next presidential jet. He renegotiated the contract in his first term, and the planemaker has since lost billions on the project.
In February, Trump showed his frustration with the delays by touring a Qatari Boeing 747 in Palm Beach β believed to be the one now on offer.
So, his support for Boeing in Qatar shows a change of heart that will likely please the planemaker and help settle any apprehension over Air Force One.
The country's top exporter, Boeing, was also under threat from Trump's tariff plans.
Jets destined for Chinese airlines had to be sent back across the Pacific Ocean after they refused to accept them due to the trade war. On Monday, China and the US agreed to lower tariffs by 115%.
But overall, that may not be as valuable as the reputation boost provided during Trump's trip.
This week has helped the storied planemaker prove that it's moving on from the woes of 2024.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
President Donald Trump was courted like a king during his trip to the Middle East this week.
From lush lavender carpets, to processions of camels, to the Burj Khalifa lighting up in stars and stripes, to ceremonial songs and dances, the countries of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates greeted the president with lavish displays of wealth and extravagance.
Trump β who himself has a gold-gilded apartment modeled after the French Palace of Versailles, complete with a diamond-encrusted front door β seemed to love the royal treatment.
"As a construction guy, this is perfect marble," Trump said to Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, gesturing around him at a Qatari palace.
"This is what they call perfecto. We appreciate those camels," he said. "I haven't seen camels like that in a long time. And really, we appreciate it very much."
In the first overseas trip of his second term, the president visited the three oil-rich Persian Gulf countries in hopes of securing major deals with them β and on that promise, he seems to have mostly delivered.
According to the White House, Saudi Arabia committed to investing $600 billion in the US (though details on the deals remain vague), Qatar agreed to an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion, and the United Arab Emirates pledged over $200 billion in commercial deals with the US.
Trump has also said he'd like to accept Qatar's offer of a jumbo jet, worth as much as $400 million, to use as his Air Force One β raising legal and ethical concerns from critics and MAGA loyalists alike.
Here's a look inside Trump's grand welcomes in the Middle East.
Bandar Al-Jaloud/Saudi Royal Court/Anadolu via Getty Images
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
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Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Brian Snyder/REUTERS
Photo by Waleed Zein/Anadolu via Getty Images
The worldβs tallest building, Burj Khalifa, in Dubai just lit up in the American πΊπΈ flag on the occasion of US President and delegation visit last night to the UAE. pic.twitter.com/DBulZ8oNeS
β Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) May 16, 2025
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
The welcome ceremony in UAE continues! πΊπΈπ¦πͺ pic.twitter.com/sXqS1IboMN
β Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) May 15, 2025
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
AP
President Donald Trump seems to be obsessed with Qatar's offer of a $400 million plane and the subsequent blowback.
Since it was first reported on Sunday that the Qatari royal family is considering gifting the Trump administration a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet, both Democrats and MAGA loyalists alike have criticized the proposed gift as ethically suspect, legally questionable, and a potential security risk.
But Trump keeps defending the proposed gift in numerous posts on Truth Social and in a Tuesday night conversation with Fox News' Sean Hannity.
"There are those that say we shouldn't be accepting gifts in the Defense Department, and I would say only a stupid person would say that. Why wouldn't we do that?" Trump told Hannity aboard Air Force One on Tuesday during his trip to the Middle East, where he's visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
If the deal goes through, Trump has said the aircraft would be temporarily used as Air Force One during his remaining time in office before being donated to his presidential library. Though the exact value of the specific jet in question β which is 13 years old, ABC News reported β isn't clear, a new 747-8 jumbo jet fetches a whopping $400 million.
"The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defense, NOT TO ME! It is a gift from a Nation, Qatar, that we have successfully defended for many years," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday. He continued, "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. This big savings will be spent, instead, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country."
Trump also re-shared multiple posts from supporters commenting on the plane late Tuesday (or very early Wednesday morning for Trump, with one post coming at 4:05 a.m. local time), including one in which a Truth user compared the plane to the 1886 gift of the Statue of Liberty from France and the 1880 gift of the Resolute Desk from Queen Victoria.
There are a few differences between those gifts and the Qatari plane.
For one, the Resolute Desk has remained in the White House to be used by future presidents, including Trump, and the Statue of Liberty is located on public land and managed by the National Park Service.
Under federal law, members of the executive branch must disclose gifts from foreign governments that are worth more than $480.
The Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act of 1966 governs the receipt of gifts taken in by federal officials, and its passage by Congress was aimed to avert conflicts of interest.
Presidents are permitted to retain gifts to be showcased at their future presidential library. However, if a president hopes to keep a gift for personal use, they must reimburse the fair market cost for the item.
The Air Force One plane used by Ronald Reagan and several other presidents is currently exhibited at Reagan's presidential library and museum in California, but that plane has been decommissioned and was never again used. It's not clear if the Qatar plane would be decommissioned before being gifted to Trump's presidential library, but Trump has said he would not use it after his time in office.
The proposal has reignited the longstanding debate over emoluments and the fight that many lawmakers have taken up over the years to ensure that presidents aren't profiting from their perch in the Oval Office.
In the US Constitution, there are emoluments enshrined into law that aim to shield the presidency from outside influences β which includes foreign governments.
Article I states that governments cannot accept gifts from any "King, Prince, or foreign State" in the absence of congressional approval. And in Article II, a president's compensation can't be raised or lowered during their time in the White House.
Qatar's media attachΓ© to the US, Ali Al-Ansari, told BI in a statement that the transfer of the aircraft is "currently under consideration." The matter "remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made," Al-Ansari said.
"Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws. President Trump's Administration is committed to full transparency," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously said in a statement to BI.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
President Donald Trump is considering using a Qatari Boeing 747-8 given as a gift as Air Force One while the new presidential jet faces delays.
The ruling family of Qatar gifted the US president the $400 million luxury jumbo jet, and Trump said he would "never be one to turn down that kind of offer."
The potential plane deal faced pushback from critics and even some Trump allies over security concerns and the legal and ethical issues associated with using a foreign-origin aircraft as Air Force One, the president's airborne command center.
Besides Air Force One, the presidential fleet includes other fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft depending on the mission.
US Air Force photo by Hayden Hallman
Air Force One is a call sign that refers to any US Air Force aircraft transporting the president, though it is commonly recognized by its blue-and-white livery.
The Air Force has two "specially configured" Boeing 747-200B jets that are primarily used as Air Force One. The VC-25A aircraft is uniquely modified to serve as an airborne command-and-control center for the president, staff, and guests with the same level of safety and security as the White House.
Other than the number of passengers it can carry, the main differences between the VC-25 and the standard Boeing 747 include more advanced electronic and communications equipment, a self-contained baggage loader, and the capability for in-flight refueling.
The VC-25 also has a rest area and mini-galley for the aircrew, six passenger lavatories, and a compartment with medical supplies and equipment for minor in-flight emergencies.
US Air Force photo by Hayden Hallman
For shorter distance trips, especially to and from the White House, the president flies in Marine One, which includes military helicopters like the VH-3D Sea King and the VH-60N White Hawk.
In service for nearly five decades, both military helicopters are set to be phased out and fully replaced with modernized rotary-wing aircraft, the VH-92A.
The next-generation Marine One is designed to be a militarized variant of the Sikorsky VH-92 Patriot.
US Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Wallace/RELEASED
The presidential fleet also includes other fixed-wing aircraft besides the modified 747. The C-32A, a modified Boeing 757-200, is better suited for smaller airports or low-profile missions.
The C-40, based on the Boeing 737, can be used to fly the president but is more often used for Cabinet members or other VIP individuals.
Based on General Dynamics' Gulfstream long-range business jets, the C-37 is used to transport high-ranking government and Defense Department officials for worldwide missions.
Courtesy rendering/US Air Force
The two planes currently being used as Air Force One have been in service for nearly four decades. They are set to be replaced by a modernized variant dubbed the "Next Air Force One."
Officially designated the VC-25B, the new presidential aircraft is set to feature "electrical power upgrades, a mission communication system, a medical facility, an executive interior, a self-defense system, and autonomous ground operations capabilities," according to an Air Force release.
The two future VC-25B jets were initially scheduled to be fielded in 2024, but supply chain issues and shifting requirements could postpone their delivery to 2029.
Facing pressure from the White House to have the new aircraft ready before Trump leaves office in January 2029, the Air Force and Boeing are aiming to have the new aircraft delivered by 2027, according to Darlene Costello, the Air Force's principal deputy assistant secretary for acquisition, technology, and logistics.
ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images
An Air Force official told Air and Space Forces Magazine that the service is coordinating with the White House and Boeing "to further define the requirements and acceleration options while ensuring we provide a safe, secure, and reliable aircraft for the president."
Trump has previously expressed his frustration with receiving the next-generation Air Force One, suggesting earlier this year that he may seek "alternatives, because it's taking Boeing too long."
Despite the backlash, the president doubled down on his proposal to use the Qatari jet as Air Force One, saying he doesn't plan on using it after his term and would donate it to a future presidential library.
"I could be a stupid person and say, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane,'" Trump told reporters Monday.
Though free in cost, there's still a major cost to overhaul and retrofit the plane with the strict security requirements needed to serve as Air Force One.
"Along with the obvious ethical and legal issues, a $400M gifted luxury jet is not Air Force One," US Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut wrote on X. "Retrofitting a plane from Qatar would create huge costs & a security nightmare that would impede the work underway to deliver the actual AF1 by 2027."
ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images
President Donald Trump wants a luxury aircraft gifted by Qatar's royal family to be his new Air Force One. Beyond the legal and ethical questions, there are a host of security concerns.
Air Force One is a call sign for any US Air Force aircraft the president flies on, but it most commonly refers to the well-known light blue and white plane used for presidential transport. The aircraft is custom-built to operate as a secure, self-sufficient flying command center if need be. Using a plane gifted by a foreign country to fill this role would demand significant work to deliver the necessary capabilities and mitigate potential security risks.
Marc Polymeropoulos, a former senior CIA operations officer who served multiple Middle East tours, said that there are standards that the US Air Force, Department of Defense, and Secret Service are required to uphold to move the president securely.
"It's going to cost an exorbitant amount of money to get that up to standard with a plane gifted by a foreign government," he told Business Insider.
Trump said on Sunday evening in a Truth Social post that the Defense Department will receive a 747 "free of charge" to temporarily replace his aging Air Force One. He said the US would take possession of it in what he described as "a very public and transparent transaction." The White House says that while Qatar has offered the jet, the details are still being sorted.
The specially configured version ofΒ Boeing's 747-200B,Β built to transport the president of the United States, is a highly recognizable aircraft with its iconic livery that has become synonymous with the Air Force One call sign. It is fitted with secure communications equipment and can refuel mid-flight.
AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell
The plane is also equipped with electronic warfare capabilities and missile countermeasures.
The Air Force has operated two of these militarized 747s, which the service designates as VC-25A, for 35 years. The tail numbers are 28000 and 29000. A new aircraft, the VC-25B, is set to replace these planes and has been in development since 2015. However, the program has faced a number of issues that have forced its start date to be pushed back from 2024 to 2027 at the soonest.
On Monday, Trump told reporters he was "very disappointed that it has taken Boeing so long to build a new Air Force One."
ABC News, which first reported Sunday on the gift, said that Trump would use the Qatari-donated 747 (which has an estimated price tag of $400 million) as the new Air Force One until just before he leaves office in 2029.
Asked Monday whether Qatar had asked for anything in exchange for the luxury 747, Trump said the US has provided the Gulf country with lots of security over the years. He described the gift as "a great gesture" and said he "would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer."
"I could be a stupid person and say, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane," he said.
The president said that the US has kept Qatar β and its neighbors, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates β secure and will continue to do so. "If it wasn't for us, they probably wouldn't exist right now. And I think this was just a gesture of good faith," he added. The US military operates out of several key bases in these three countries.
Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
In response to further questions, Trump said that he does not plan to use the 747 after he leaves office and that the plane would go directly to his presidential library foundation.
Beyond raising questions about the legality of accepting an expensive gift from another country, the Qatar 747 news quickly triggered criticism from some US lawmakers and stoked concerns about the potential security risks of receiving such an important asset from a foreign state.
Connecticut Rep. Joe Courtney, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services subcommittee that oversees Air Force One, said that "retrofitting a plane from Qatar would create huge costs & a security nightmare that would impede the work underway to deliver the actual AF1 by 2027."
Boeing, the US aerospace giant, reportedly built the 747 as a private jet for Qatar's royal family, which acquired the aircraft in 2012. It is significantly larger than the 757-200 "Trump Force One" that the president and his organization have been using as a personal plane.
Once the Qatari 747 is eventually received by the Air Force, assuming the transfer takes place, it would need to be modified and essentially militarized by the Pentagon to meet the requirements of transporting a president β a high-stakes job that is unlikely to be cheap.
"The idea of getting it from a foreign government, you literally would have to tear it apart piece by piece," said Polymeropoulos, now a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. He said acquiring this 747 isn't cost-effective because it would be expensive for the government and military to retrofit the aircraft to bring the plane up to the necessary standards.
"I suppose you can, but basically, you're building a whole new plane," he said.
Nathan Howard/REUTERS
BI asked the White House about addressing the security concerns and whether these surfaced during discussions of the aircraft's transfer. The administration pointed to Trump's remarks from the press conference earlier on Monday.
Qatar has stressed that a decision to transfer the aircraft is not final. A Pentagon spokesperson referred BI to the White House for questions about Air Force One procurement.
Joseph LaSorsa, a former Secret Service agent who protected several presidents during his 20-year-long career, identified multiple potential concerns with acquiring the 747.
LaSorsa, president and CEO of J.A. LaSorsa & Associates, told BI that these possible risks include sabotage to the 747's mechanical or operational features, tracking of the aircraft, and any surveillance through audio or video recording devices. He stressed that the American government would thoroughly examine the entire plane in a process that could take up to a year or longer.
"They're going to do their due diligence, if they do, in fact, use it," he said, but that's time and money.
Donald Trump is expected to receive a luxury 747 jet from Qatar to use as Air Force One. Republicans, Democrats, and legal experts are showing concern.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
President Donald Trump may soon be receiving a luxury jet from Qatar, and even some of MAGA's most faithful are against it.
Multiple outlets on Sunday reported that the Qatari royal family is preparing to give the Trump administration a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet, to be used as Air Force One in Trump's second term before being donated to his presidential library. Though the exact value of the specific jet in question β which is 13 years old, ABC News reported β isn't clear, a new 747-8 jumbo jet fetches a whopping $400 million.
Frequent Trump critics such as Sen.Β Chuck SchumerΒ of New York and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont have criticized the gift, but in a notable break, some of Trump's most ardent MAGA loyalists have also criticized the potential plane deal.
"I love President Trump. I would take a bullet for him," Laura Loomer, a conservative activist and longtime Trump ally, wrote on X on Sunday. "But, I have to call a spade a spade. We cannot accept a $400 million 'gift' from jihadists in suits."
"This is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true. I'm so disappointed," she added.
Trump all but confirmed the news in a Truth Social post on Sunday.
"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. Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA," Trump wrote.
Meanwhile, Qatar's media attachΓ© to the US, Ali Al-Ansari, told BI in a statement that the transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is "currently under consideration." The matter "remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made," Al-Ansari said.
Some other Trump supporters echoed Loomer's concerns.
Mark Levin, a radio host and Trump backer, took to X to accuse Qatar of spreading "anti-American" propaganda.
"Their jet and all the other things they are buying in our country does not provide them with the cover they seek," he wrote on the social media platform.
He later wrote "Ditto" in response to Loomer's post.
Conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro also weighed in on the controversy during a Monday episode of his self-titled podcast.
"Taking sacks of goodies from people who support Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood, al-Jazeera, all the rest, that's not America first. Like, please define America first in a way that says you should take sacks of cash from the Qatari royals who are behind al-Jazeera," he said, adding, "If you want President Trump to succeed, this kind of skeezy stuff needs to stop."
There's been little pushback among GOP lawmakers β for now at least.
But Rep. Warren Davidson, a conservative Republican from Ohio, seemingly alluded to the situation on X without specifically naming Trump.
"I recall trying to rally support for a thorough investigation of the Clinton Foundation," he wrote. "It seemed odd that a Secretary of State / Senator / First Lady / Presidential candidate could collect hundreds of millions of dollars from foreign governments with no corruption. The appearance of corruption alone screams, 'Bad idea!'"
He continued: "My views have not changed. At a minimum, 'Bad idea!'"
And on Fox News, Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky questioned the legality of the Trump administration accepting the Qatari plane, saying it's "not worth the appearance of impropriety."
Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott, a fervent Trump supporter, also voiced his concern about the safety of Trump flying on a plane from a country that has helped fund the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The news of the plane came ahead of Trump's planned visit to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates this week.
Legal experts told Business Insider the reported gift raises both ethical and constitutional concerns.
"Outside of the legal context, it is fair to ask whether the acceptance of this gift could give rise to an apparent conflict of interest or corruption," Jessica Levinson, a law professor and the director of the Public Service Institute at Loyola Law School, told BI.
The gift could also be a potential violation of the Constitution's foreign emoluments clause, which prohibits government officials from accepting gifts or benefits from foreign parties without consent from Congress.
Trump again defended the move on Monday, telling reporters the jet wouldn't be a gift to him personally, but to the Department of Defense.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington determined that gifting the jet would be "legally permissible" if it is transferred to Trump's presidential library before the end of his second term, ABC News said.
In 2019, during Trump's first term, Bondi lobbied on behalf of the Qatari government.
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said in a statement to BI: "Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws. President Trump's Administration is committed to full transparency."
Bernd von Jutrczenka/picture alliance via Getty Images
Recent years have been tough for the consulting business. Growth has plummeted in some key markets, and the challenging economic climate has led to layoffs and restructuring at major firms. But one region is proving to be a consulting bright spot.
International consultancies are finding success in the Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC β a political and economic bloc that includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.
According to Source Global, a UK-based research firm that tracks the consulting industry, the GCC consulting market grew 13.2% in 2023.
Source Global's research found that in the more mature US and British markets, growth in 2023 slowed to 5.2% and 4.7%, respectively. In previous years, growth in both countries had been in double digits.
Dane Albertelli, a senior analyst at Source Global, told Business Insider that the scale of growth in the GCC advisory market is "unprecedented" and that it has become "the place for opportunity and the place where these companies can make a lot of money."
Albertelli said that data for 2024 has yet to be finalized but that the GCC market was expected to have accelerated by more than 15%.
Opportunities for consultants in the GCC started with the UAE roughly 20 years ago, when its government poured resources into plans to diversify its economy away from oil.
Heavy investment in tourism, aviation, real estate, and financial services led to the need for planning and technical expertise. Consulting firms started to pour money and resources into meeting the needs of the Emirati government, and "it's just been a cascade from there," Albertelli said.
The scale of Western consulting firms' presence in Gulf nations is apparent in the volume of offices they have in the region. All of the Big Four β Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG β have 10 or more offices in GCC countries, while McKinsey has eight, BCG has six, and Accenture has four. The UAE is a particular hot spot, with Deloitte having nine offices in the country.
Saudi Arabia has been leading the drive in recent years with its Vision 2030 strategy, a $1 trillion project to reduce reliance on oil revenues and boost the country's standing on the global stage.
The centerpiece of Vision 2030 is Neom, an ambitious megacity and tourism hot spot being built in the country's northern deserts. But Saudi Arabia is also planning to construct a whole new district in Riyadh, preparing to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and aiming to become a "national champion" in AI.
Christophe Viseux/Getty Images for Saudi Arabian Football Federation
Dubai is now a tourism and expat hot spot, and the UAE's economy is booming. But the drive for growth and the need for consultants hasn't stopped β the current push is toward healthcare innovation with the aim of becoming a medical tourism hub.
Similar tourism, sport, technology, and infrastructure initiatives are underway in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman.
"That naturally translates into an awful lot of advisory work," Albertelli said. International consultants are being called in to design and implement projects ranging from transportation networks and city construction to education reform and public sector tech systems.
Such projects have not been without controversy. Saudi Arabia has been accused of human rights abuses against local tribespeople living close to the site of Neom, while hundreds of migrant workers were acknowledged to have died in Qatar in the lead-up to the 2022 World Cup.
Albertelli said that while they spend to diversify away from reliance on petrochemical dollars, the Gulf nations' backlog of oil funds has ensured that the advisory sector avoids the macroeconomic tension that has hit the European and US advisory markets.
Barring any massive geopolitical tension, opportunities aren't going anywhere, Albertelli said. He expects the rate of growth to continue for several years and says the main change to the market will be that, as infrastructure gets built, the work will shift from strategy to operations advice.
From the pull factor of little to no income tax to the recent opening up of society, the region has plenty to attract consultants besides a steady stream of projects.
"If you don't mind a bit of sun, it's probably the best place to go for your career," Albertelli said.
The GCC consulting market is unique in that most firms' clients are national governments rather than private companies, giving international firms a significant role in shaping the public sector.
"The degree of access and influence that consultancies have over policymaking is far more extensive than what you see in most other regions," Dawud Ansari, President of the Majan Council, an Omani think tank focused on development in the Gulf region, told BI. "They don't just refine policies or draft reports β they design entire national visions and, in some cases, effectively take over the steering wheel of major policy initiatives."
"Most Gulf states have a limited number of national think tanks and independent expertise, meaning that when a decision needs to be made, the instinct is usually to bring in an external, mostly foreign, consultant," al-Ansari told BI.
"They come from a completely different cultural and institutional background, which inevitably affects how they operate and how aligned their recommendations are with local realities."
Al-Ansari said that the continued reliance on external expertise for policymaking could erode public trust and restrict nationals from developing career paths in public policy.
Lu ShaoJi/Getty Images
As the market continues to grow, a rising number of local boutique advisory firms are being created. The Saudi government's "Saudization" policy β which enforces a quota system on high-value industries β is also resulting in more nationals entering the offices of international consultancies.
Albertelli told BI that most Gulf states are focused on the outcomes and care about the brand rather than the nationality of consultants.
"All the big countries in the GCC want the best talent and they're willing to spend no matter where it's from. Obviously, these are all big Western companies, but I think they realize that, particularly with the Big Four, they're massive international firms," he said.
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Bonita Mersiades is a FIFA whistleblower and a former head of corporate and public affairs at Football Australia. She played a key role in Australia's bid to host the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, a bidding season at the heart of a major FIFA corruption scandal that led to the indictment of 14 officials and executives.
After she was fired in 2010, Mersiades became a prominent whistleblower and helped expose "the FIFA way," the culture of bribery and corruption within FIFA. Her efforts contributed to investigations that led to high-profile FIFA arrests in 2015. She is the author of "Whatever It Takes: The Inside Story of the FIFA Way" and the founder of Fair Play Publishing, a company specializing in nonfiction stories about football.
Mersiades speaks with Business Insider about the ongoing culture of corruption within FIFA, the controversial 2018 and 2022 selections of Russia and Qatar, and the history of misconduct and misogyny within the world of football. She speaks about the future of the World Cup tournament, which has been awarded to Saudi Arabia for 2034.
For more: https://www.amazon.com.au/Whatever-Takes-Inside-Story-FIFA/dp/1925914682
Taylor Rains/Business Insider
United Airlines is one step closer to bringing free WiFi to its planes.
The Chicago-based carrier announced plans in January to test Elon Musk's high-speed Starlink internet on an Embraer 175 regional jet in February.
By year-end, United's entire two-cabin regional fleet, meaning its smaller planes with first and economy class, will get the upgrade. Its first mainline aircraft will also take off by the end of 2025, with the entire fleet getting the upgrade at some point.
Members of United's MileagePlus loyalty program will be able to access Starlink for free, including for browsing and streaming.
Members currently pay $8 for internet on domestic and short-haul international flights, while non-members by $10. International WiFi pricing depends on destination and flight length.
United's new free internet access will join Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways, both of which already provide complimentary WiFi through other providers like ViaSat and Gogo
American Airlines has free ad-sponsored internet on certain narrow-body planes, but it's limited to 20 or 30 minutes.
Starlink, an arm of SpaceX, provides WiFi via low-orbit satellites. Its reliability is particularly useful in remote areas and on cruise ships, and its popularity has grown on commercial airplanes.
Viasat, by comparison, has only a few satellites and is slower by comparison.
In 2022, semi-private air carrier JSX was the first company to ink a deal for Starlink. The company has since deployed the service on its entire fleet of Embraer jets.
Hawaiian Airlines, now merged with Alaska Airlines, has retrofitted its Airbus A330 and A321neo planes with free Starlink and has plans to add its Boeing 787s, too.
Alaska has since acquired Hawaiian's Starlink-equipped jets. Starting this year, it plans to fly the widebody Airbus aircraft from Seattle to Japan and South Korea.
AirBaltic, Air France, Air New Zealand, Qatar Airways, and Japan's Zipair have also selected Starlink for their fleets.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
Qatar rolled out free Starlink on its first Boeing 777 in October. It plans to install the service on the entire 777 fleet by the end of 2025 and start the upgrades on its Airbus A350s this summer.
Business Insider tested Qatar's new WiFi at 36,000 feet and found a download speed of up to 215 megabits per second, though it dipped over certain areas.
The service could easily manage high-speed streaming and video calling with little to no buffering.
Majid Asgaripour/WANA via REUTERS
The Boeing 747 has become one of the most iconic airplanes ever built since it was introduced in 1970. The double-decker aircraft pioneered the use of the term "jumbo jet."
But the "Queen of the Skies" is growing old, and its four engines are thirstier than newer, more fuel-efficient jets.
During the pandemic, airlines like British Airways, KLM, and Qantas retired their 747s, and Boeing decided to end production.
A handful of Boeing 747s are still flying commercially, but you're more likely to see one carrying cargo.
Yet sometimes, reputation outweighs efficiency. The 747 is still the jet of choice for 11 governments and royal families around the world.
Air Force One is the most iconic β although technically, it's not a 747 but a militarized version called the VC-25A. The jumbo jet is most popular among leaders in Asia, primarily the Middle East.
In alphabetical order, here are the countries that have their own Boeing 747s.
REUTERS/ Muhammad Hamed
The Kingdom of Bahrain, an island country in the Persian Gulf, is one of many oil-rich nations on this list.
Bahrain Royal Flight operates two 747-400s which are both over 20 years old. They are used to fly King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and his family.
RAAD ADAYLEH/AFP via Getty Images
The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is one of the flashiest leaders in the world. His palace has over 1,700 rooms, more than 2 million sq ft of space, and a 110-car garage.
One of the few absolute monarchs on this list, he has one Boeing 747-8, which is operated by the airline Sultan's Flight.
Sultan's Flight previously had another two 747s. Its current fleet also includes a Boeing 767 and a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that was delivered in 2018.
Alexander Vilf/BRICS-RUSSIA2024.RU/via REUTERS
China is the only country whose governmental Boeing 747 is actually operated by its flag carrier.
With the Air China livery, it looks the same as the airline's eight 747s on the outside. However, the one registered B-2479 is said to have been kitted out for the government to use.
During Xi Jinping's visit to South America in November, Air China deployed another 747 for other personnel, as well as a cargo version that carried a luxury Hongqi car, Simple Flying reported.
REUTERS/Gustavo Fazio-Senado
Morocco has the lowest GDP per capita on this list, of $4,204. However, the royal family is one of the richest: Forbes estimated that King Mohammed VI had a net worth of $5.7 billion in 2015.
There are two jumbo jets registered to the country's government: a 747-400 and a larger 747-8. It also owns a Boeing 737.
The 747s have "Kingdom of Morocco" written on the side in Arabic, and stripes in the flag's colors of red and green. It's similar to the former livery of the country's flag carrier, Royal Air Maroc.
Abdulla Al Neyadi/UAE Presidential Court/Handout via REUTERS
Like Brunei's leader, the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq also heads an absolute monarchy.
Oman Royal Flight operates two Boeing 747s. The older 747-400 was delivered in 2001, while a newer 747-8 was delivered in 2012.
The Sultan also owns a business-jet version of Airbus' A320 and A319 jets.
Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty Images
The Boeing 747 pictured above may look like a Qatar Airways plane from the outside, but it is only used to transport the country's ruling Al-Thani family.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his wife, Noora bint Hathal Al Dosari, arrived on one of their two 747-8s when they visited the UK in December.
Qatar Amiri Flight has 13 planes in total β the most of any on this list.
Bloomberg estimated the family's fortune to be $150 billion. The country's sovereign wealth fund has myriad investments around the globe, including a substantial stake in London Heathrow Airport.
REUTERS/Beawiharta
Saudi Arabia has the richest royal family in the world. Including its holdings in state oil company Aramco, some estimates put the figure over $1 trillion.
Among its six active jets is one Boeing 747-400, per ch-aviation data.
88-year-old King Salman travels with a 1,500-person entourage and two Mercedes Benz limousines, The Points Guy reported.
He also has a golden escalator to board and deplane the 747 βΒ which once malfunctioned on a trip to Russia.
Saudi king's golden escalator gets stuck after he lands in Russia on first official visit https://t.co/5KFXmyMaN8 pic.twitter.com/S3ood2biLd
β BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) October 6, 2017
Kim Sunjoo/Courtesy of Korean Culture and Information Service
South Korea's presidential jet is known as Code One β an upgraded 747-8 leased from flag carrier Korean Air.
It's the newest plane on this list, in service since January 2022.
"From decorating the exterior of the plane to remodeling the inside of the plane with customized facilities for the president, such as an office room and sleeping area, the plane needs to reinforce its protection function for the security of the president," an industry inside told The Korea Herald.
dia images/dia images via Getty Images
After opposition politicians expressed concern about using taxpayers' money to buy a jet, Qatar's Al-Thani gifted Turkey a $500 million Boeing 747-8 in 2018, per the BBC.
The two countries grew closer after Turkey supported Qatar during a diplomatic crisis from 2017 to 2021, when other Arab states cut off ties.
The Turkish government also owns four Airbus planes.
Elizabeth Frantz/REUTERS
Air Force One is perhaps the most iconic governmental plane. However, it stands out from the rest because it isn't technically a 747. Instead, it's a militarized version called the VC-25A, meaning it can do things like refuel in midair.
However, it's over 30 years old, with two new ones in the pipeline. In his first term, Donald Trump renegotiated the contract with Boeing to limit costs below $4 billion. He most likely won't get to fly on the new jets, though, with delivery now expected in 2029.
REUTERS/Rick Wilking
The Waltons are once again the world's wealthiest family, ranking ahead of Gulf royalty, luxury fashion houses, and industrial dynasties.
The heirs to the Walmart fortune have grown their wealth by 66% since last year to a record $432 billion as of December 5, meaning they've regained the No.1 spot on Bloomberg's annual list of the world's richest families.
That wealth figure exceeds the market value of some of America's biggest companies including Home Depot ($412 billion), Procter & Gamble ($402 billion), and Netflix ($396 billion).
Abu Dhabi's ruling family, the Al Nahyans, topped the ranking last year with an estimated $305 billion fortune that dwarfed the Waltons' $260 billion. The two clans switched places this year with the Al Nahyans now worth $324 billion, more than $100 billion less than the Waltons.
Qatar's ruling dynasty, the Al Thanis, placed third this year with $173 billion to their name. France's Hermès family, which includes the Birkin maker's artistic director and executive chairman, landed in fourth with $171 billion. Rounding out the top five were the Kochs, the legendary US industrialists worth an estimated $149 billion.
The richest families on the planet also include Saudi Arabia's rulers, candy dynasties Mars and Ferrero, and the Wertheimer family behind Chanel.
Walmart founder Sam Walton's three surviving children β Jim, Rob, and Alice β have each grown about $43 billion richer this year, per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
The trio joined the $100 billion club in September and ranked among the 15 richest people on the planet as of December 12 with north of $112 billion to each of their names.
Lukas and Christy Walton, the son and widow of Sam's late son, John T. Walton, also feature on Bloomberg's rich list with net worths of about $40 billion and $18 billion each.
The five Waltons' combined fortune has ballooned by more than $150 billion this year, representing a big chunk of the 25 richest families' total wealth gain of $407 billion.
The Walton family's wealth bump has been fueled by a roughly 80% surge in the retailer's stock price this year. Sam Walton gave each of his four children a 20% stake in the family enterprise early on, and his three surviving kids each own upward of 11% of Walmart β now a company valued north of $750 billion β through a family trust. They've also raked in more than $15 billion from stock sales and dividends over the years, Bloomberg says.
Qatar hosts the biggest animal cargo center in the world. We visited the hub to see how crews keep precious loads safe in 100-degree heat.
