Despite howls of outrage from Democrats and some Republicans, President Donald J. Trump isn’t budging on the $400 million jet that’s been generously gifted to the U.S. by the Qatari royal family.
Trump defended accepting the gifted Boeing 747-8 in a Tuesday interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity onboard Air Force One amid an uproar from congressional Democrats who are frantically lurching from one ginned-up scandal to another in the hope that something will stick to the popular president.
“Now, some people say, ‘Oh, you shouldn’t accept gifts for the country.’ My attitude is, why wouldn’t I accept the gift? We’re giving to everybody else? Why wouldn’t I accept the gift?” Trump told Hannity while explaining that Boeing is running way behind on its commitment to deliver the new presidential plane.
(Video Credit: Fox News)
Trump also suggested that the current Air Force One is puny when compared to the planes used by the leaders of other countries and that the United States of America should have the most “impressive” aircraft.
“They are very late with the plane, and Qatar heard about it, and he’s a great leader, and we were talking, and he said if I can help you, let me do that,” the president said. “And they had a plane, not a new plane at all, but they had a plane, and you know, these planes, the plane that you’re on right now is almost 40 years old.”
“And when you land and you see Saudi Arabia and you see UAE and you see Qatar, and you see all these and they have these brand new Boeing 747s mostly, and you see ours next to it, this is like a totally different plane,” Trump continued. “It’s much smaller. It’s much less impressive as impressive as it is, and you know we’re the United States of America. I believe that we should have the most impressive plane.”
The president also defended accepting the plane in a Tuesday night post to Truth Social.
IT’S SETTLED! President Trump is NOT changing his mind about accepting Qatar’s free Air Force One gift.
“Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” pic.twitter.com/7oXBAwDsEY
— George (@BehizyTweets) May 14, 2025
“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. 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,” he said.
“Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE from a country that wants to reward us for a job well done. This big savings will be spent, instead, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump wrote.
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