berated an NBC journalist for asking about the Qatari government’s donation of a
Boeing 747 aircraft to the United States Air Force. The confrontation occurred during a media appearance with South African President
Cyril Ramaphosa.“What are you talking about? ...What are you talking about? You know... You need to get out of here... What does this have to do with Qatari Jet...? They are giving the United States Air Force a jet, and it's a great thing... We're talking about a lot of other things, and this NBC is trying to get off the subject of what you just saw,” Trump snapped.
He did not stop there. “You are a terrible reporter. Number one, you don't have what it takes to be a reporter. You are not smart enough,” he added, dismissing the journalist’s question entirely.
— EricLDaugh (@EricLDaugh)
Turning his ire toward NBC and its parent company
Comcast, Trump said, “You ought to go back to your studio at NBC, because Brian Roberts and the people that run that place, they ought to be investigated. They are so terrible in the way you run that network. And you are a disgrace. No more questions from you.”
He then pivoted to defending the Qatari aircraft deal: “But for you to go on to a subject about a jet that was given to the United States Air Force, which is a very nice thing. They also gave USD 5.1 trillion worth of investments in addition to the jet.”
Trump later clarified on Truth Social that the aircraft was not a personal gift but a diplomatic gesture: “The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defence, NOT TO ME! It is a gift from a nation, Qatar, that we have successfully defended for many years. It will be used by our Government as a temporary
Air Force One, until such time as our new Boeings, which are very late on delivery, arrive.”
The jet, estimated at $400 million when new, was accepted by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, the
Pentagon confirmed. It is currently housed in San Antonio, Texas.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell assured that the transfer adheres to all applicable US laws. “The Defense Department will work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered,” he said.
Despite the official line, Democratic lawmakers have raised alarms. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called the move “a dark day in history,” and added, “the president of the United States of America officially accepted the largest bribe from a foreign government in American history.” He continued, “The unprecedented action is a stain on the office of the presidency and cannot go unanswered.”
Senators Mazie Hirono and Tammy Duckworth also weighed in. Duckworth said the retrofitting costs could exceed $1 billion and that the US has no need for the aircraft, given it already possesses two fully functional Air Force One planes.
Experts say the 13-year-old luxury jet will need extensive security upgrades. These include missile defence systems, encrypted communications, and other high-level modifications if it is to be used for presidential travel.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told the Senate, “Any civilian aircraft will take significant modifications. We will make sure we do what's necessary to ensure security of the aircraft.” However, the Pentagon has not disclosed how much these changes would cost or how long they would take.
The broader Air Force One programme has been beset by delays and rising costs. Boeing received a $3.9 billion contract in 2018 to build two new jets, but delivery has been pushed to 2027, three years behind schedule. The programme has also accrued $2.4 billion in cost overruns.
Trump toured the Qatari aircraft earlier this year at a Florida airport. While he says Qatar offered the jet as a gift, CNN reported the Trump administration had first approached Qatar with interest in acquiring a 747 for official use. Reuters revealed that L3 Harris Technologies has been tasked with overhauling the plane.
The government of Qatar has not raised any objections or concerns regarding the aircraft handover. Trump, for his part, dismissed any ethical doubts and called it “stupid” not to accept the aircraft.
Still, the gesture remains politically charged. As lawmakers debate legality and optics, the United States moves ahead with plans to transform a royal jetliner into a temporary symbol of presidential power. Whether it flies as Air Force One remains to be seen — but the turbulence has already begun.
