U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has accepted a Boeing 747 offered by the Gulf nation of Qatar for use by former President Donald Trump as Air Force One, the Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday. The jet, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, has ignited intense debate over constitutional legality, national security, and political ethics.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated:
“The Secretary of Defence has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations. The Department of Defence will work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered for an aircraft used to transport the President of the United States.”
The U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clause prohibits government officials from accepting gifts from foreign states without congressional approval — a provision central to the backlash.
Trump, however, brushed off concerns, defending the decision to accept the aircraft:
“It’s a great gesture,” he said. “I could be a stupid person and say, ‘No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane.’”
In response, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer introduced the Presidential Airlift Security Act, a bill aimed at preventing the Pentagon from using taxpayer funds to retrofit any plane previously owned by a foreign government as the presidential aircraft.
“Donald Trump has shown time and again he will sell out the American people and the presidency if it means filling his own pockets,” Schumer said. “Not only would it take billions of taxpayer dollars to even attempt to retrofit and secure this plane, but there’s absolutely no amount of modifications that can guarantee it will be secure.”
While some Republicans have voiced concern, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has yet to signal whether he will bring the bill to a vote. Schumer, however, intends to force the issue by tying the measure to upcoming spending legislation.
The controversy continues to raise questions about presidential ethics, foreign influence, and national security protocols.