Biden’s Air Force One replacement talks with Qatar reveal a plan initiated long before Trump took office, complicating criticism that the arrangement benefits the current president personally.
At a Glance
- Negotiations for Qatar to provide a temporary Air Force One replacement began under the Biden administration, not Trump
- The U.S. needs a replacement because the current Air Force One is over 40 years old and its backup was decommissioned due to structural issues
- The Boeing 747-8 would first go to the U.S. Air Force before eventual transfer to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation by 2029
- Qatar’s Media Attaché states no final decision has been made, contradicting claims of a confirmed gift
- The arrangement has sparked debate about foreign gifts and potential ethical concerns
Biden Administration Initiated Qatar Plane Talks
Senator Markwayne Mullin has revealed that negotiations with Qatar for a temporary replacement of Air Force One began under President Biden’s administration, not President Trump’s. The talks were initiated because of urgent concerns about the current presidential aircraft fleet’s reliability and age. The primary Air Force One is now over four decades old, while its backup was decommissioned due to critical structural issues, creating a security vulnerability for presidential transport.
“Here’s what’s interesting to me, what the media isn’t telling you — what no one’s talking to you about, is the same 747 has been in negotiations for a year. The Biden administration is the one that started these conversations. It didn’t start underneath the Trump administration. Why? Because we need a back-up for Air Force One,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin.
The Proposed Arrangement Details
According to reports, the aircraft in question is a 13-year-old Boeing 747-8 that would temporarily serve as Air Force One while Boeing completes production of the new presidential fleet, which has faced significant delays. Under the proposed arrangement, the U.S. Air Force would receive the aircraft for modification to meet presidential specifications. The Air Force would cover these modification costs, with the plane eventually transferring to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation by January 1, 2029.
“The President of the United States is flying around on a 40-year-old plane, and there is no back-up for it. The back-up we had, the air frame started having structural issues. No one’s discussing that part,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK).
President Trump addressed the matter on Truth Social, stating that the Department of Defense would receive the aircraft as a gift at no cost to taxpayers, characterizing it as “a very public and transparent transaction.” Trump dismissed questions about the plane being a personal gift to him, calling such inquiries “embarrassing” and criticizing media coverage as creating false narratives.
Qatar’s Position Remains Tentative
Despite discussions about the potential aircraft transfer, Qatar’s Media Attaché Ali Al-Ansari has clarified that no final decision has been made. The matter remains under review by legal departments from both countries, contradicting reports that characterized the arrangement as confirmed. This indicates that the transaction, while in negotiation, has yet to be finalized and approved by all relevant authorities.
“Reports that a jet is being gifted by Qatar to the United States government during the upcoming visit of President Trump are inaccurate. The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense, but the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made,” Al-Ansari said.
Public and Political Reactions
The potential aircraft arrangement has sparked mixed reactions across the country. Some Americans view it positively, comparing it to other historical gifts like the Statue of Liberty. “I think it’s a good idea for the country to accept that. We’ve accepted other gifts from other countries, including the Statue of Liberty, so I can’t see a problem with that,” said Carrie from Kentucky. Others express concerns about potential strings attached to such a valuable gift, estimated to be worth approximately $400 million.
The White House has maintained that the transaction complies with all legal requirements, but skepticism remains among some lawmakers and citizens. The situation has highlighted tensions surrounding foreign gifts and raised questions about executive aircraft readiness. As the legal review continues, the final outcome of this proposed arrangement remains to be determined, with both supporters and critics closely monitoring developments.
