Trump’s “Free” Jet Will Cost Taxpayers Hundreds of Millions

The White House has officially accepted the $400 million Boeing 747-8 from Qatar. We’re now on track to spend hundreds of millions more retrofitting this jet, only for it to end up in Donald Trump’s hands after he leaves office. Let’s be clear: this is not a gift to the American people. This is a security risk, a financial burden, and a political landmine. Outfitting the plane to meet the requirements for Air Force One will take years and cost taxpayers an estimated $300–400 million. That includes hardened communication systems, missile defenses, and shielding against electronic warfare (Defense News, May 2025). Meanwhile, the Air Force already has a new Air Force One that is nearing completion. The administration has signaled that the aircraft will be transferred to Trump’s presidential library, a private foundation. If that happens, we will have paid to convert a jet into a military-grade, globally mobile command center—only to hand it over as a trophy. That would be a stunning abuse of public funds and a violation of the Emoluments Clause, which prohibits federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign governments without Congressional consent (New York Post, May 2025). Even if the Qatar jet is technically property of the U.S. government today, the intentions behind it matter. So does the outcome. This move smells like a backdoor arrangement to benefit one individual with close personal ties to a foreign monarchy. That demands oversight. Congress must act immediately. Launch an investigation. Demand documentation. Halt any funding for retrofits unless the aircraft is guaranteed to remain a government asset, permanently. And if there’s coordination between Trump, the Qatari government, and this administration to secure a future handoff, that warrants serious legal consequences, up to and including impeachment. This is not about partisanship. It’s about corruption. No one—Republican or Democrat—should be allowed to convert public office into private gain. Investigate. Block the funds. Protect the Constitution.