Why Trump’s Qatar plane ignited a fierce political debate and could cost more than $1bn - The president insists only a ‘stupid person’ would turn down extravagant gift intended to replace Air Force One,

“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 said in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, late on Tuesday, May 13.

President Donald Trump hailed his "special relationship" with Qatar after Boeing signed a deal with the emirate that he said is the "largest order of jets" in the company's history. Qatar will purchase 160 jets from Boeing under the deal agreed with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Converting a luxury jet gifted by Qatar to President Donald Trump into a replacement for Air Force One could potentially cost hundreds of millions of dollars and it could take up two years to install the necessary security equipment,

President Donald Trump is poised to accept a jet from Qatar to be used as Air Force One.ABC News reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi signed off on the potential deal.Trump is receiving pushback from some of his most fervent MAGA loyalists over the issue.

As Trump defends accepting a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family, many of his fellow Republicans have voiced concerns.

Qatari officials said the plane was being given by the Qatari Ministry of Defense to the Pentagon but Trump said the Boeing 747-8 jet will be used as Air Force One—the official presidential plane and according to multiple reports, after he leaves office, it will be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation.

President Donald Trump arrived Wednesday in Qatar, as he’s made clear he wants the $400 million plane the country is expected to gift him, despite bipartisan criticism of security and conflict-of-interest concerns.