The US Air Force has been tasked with modifying the Qatari jet gifted to Trump. It could cost $1B to upgrade.
Image Credit: businessinsiderThe US Air Force has been directed to plan modifications for a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet gifted to former President Donald Trump by the Qatari royal family, intending to add it to the Air Force One fleet.
Critics, including Senator Tammy Duckworth, have raised concerns about the ethical implications of accepting such a gift and the potentially high retrofit costs, estimated at around $1 billion.
The plane’s integration into the fleet comes amid delays to Boeing’s contracted replacement Air Force One jets, which are not scheduled to be ready until 2027.
White House officials maintain the plane was donated to the US Air Force and is being retrofitted to high standards, though the timeline for completion remains unclear.
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