Retrofitting Qatar's Gift to the US Could Cost Millions

The United States just accepted a luxury Boeing 747 jet from Qatar as a gift, and while that might sound like a win for taxpayers, it’s shaping up to be anything but cheap.

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The 13-year-old Boeing 747-8 was offered to be used as the next Air Force One to transport President Donald Trump, and while it’s decked out with a luxurious interior, experts say it’s far from mission-ready. Between security enhancements, upgraded communications, and anti-missile systems, the total cost of getting the jet fit to fly the president could easily top $1 billion.

Why So Expensive?

The Pentagon has confirmed that the Air Force is now tasked with figuring out how to retrofit the plane. That means:

• Advanced encryption systems to secure presidential communications
• Missile defense tech to keep the aircraft safe from threats
• Shielding against spying or hacking attempts
• Structural reinforcements to meet military-grade specs

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said, "Any civilian aircraft will take significant modifications,” and he’s not wrong. The current Air Force One program, upgrading two 747-8s for presidential use, is already running at over $5 billion and several years behind schedule. The Qatari plane, while a generous gesture, could easily follow the same cost-heavy path.

So… Is It Worth It?

That depends on who you ask. Supporters say accepting the jet was a practical move to save time and money compared to building a new one from scratch. But critics aren’t buying it. Democratic Senators Mazie Hirono and Tammy Duckworth have slammed the decision, saying the U.S. already has two fully operational Air Force One planes and this hand-me-down brings unnecessary costs and security risks.

Duckworth put it bluntly: “This could cost us over $1 billion just to retrofit. That’s not a gift, it’s a burden.”

Ethical Questions, Too

Besides the cost, there’s also political fallout. Legal experts are raising eyebrows about whether accepting a massive gift from a foreign government crosses ethical or constitutional lines. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called it “the largest bribe from a foreign government in American history.”

Trump, on the other hand, dismissed the criticism, calling it “stupid” not to accept the 747, which originally had a $400 million price tag when new. Today, experts say a used model might fetch about $100 million on the open market, still a hefty asset.

What Happens Next?

The Pentagon hasn’t released an official cost estimate or timeline yet, but the planning phase has already begun. Whether the jet ever flies as Air Force One, or becomes a billion-dollar paperweight, remains to be seen.