Trump flies for the first time aboard Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar as new Air Force One

According to earlier reports, the Boeing 747 features reclining seats, wood paneling, and the presidential seal on the seatbelts. Its value is estimated at around 400 million US dollars (approximately 348 million euros). Trump had already accepted the gift in May 2025, even though it triggered sharp criticism.

Reactions from politics and society

To dispel suspicions of bribery against Trump, the "donation" from Qatar officially went to the Department of Defense. Trump said the USA had paid "pretty little" and had only paid for the security upgrades "to presidential level," without naming a sum. "Frankly we couldn't even build a plane like this because we wouldn't be willing to spend the necessary money," he added.

The opposition sharply criticized the gift. Democrats spoke of "outright corruption" and accused Trump of "bribery." They announced protest actions in the US Congress. Criticism also came from the right: far-right influencer Laura Loomer spoke of "betrayal" of US interests and called Qatar a supporter of Islamist terrorist groups. Some podcasters joined the criticism, and some Trump supporters also expressed concerns.

Constitutionally, the situation is tricky: The US Constitution prohibits government officials from accepting gifts, titles, or similar favors "from any king, prince, or foreign state" without the consent of Congress. Whether and how Congress will be involved in the process remained open in previous statements from the White House.

Maiden flight to North Dakota

The maiden flight of the new government aircraft went to North Dakota. There, Trump wanted to open a library on this day to mark the 250th birthday of the United States. Accompanying journalists reported that the aircraft took off from Joint Base Andrews on a domestic flight.

The public will be able to see the new aircraft in action at the celebrations for the 250th Independence Day of the United States on July 4. According to Trump, participation in a flyover in Washington is planned. The gift from Qatar would thus be publicly staged shortly after the maiden flight.

Trump had previously described the aircraft as a "flying White House" and as the "most luxurious aircraft in the world." On the runway, in his words, it even looked larger than its predecessor. The opponents in Congress see above all one thing in it: an extraordinary asset handed over to a private recipient without a transparent process.

Constitutional concerns

Supporters argue that the USA saved considerable funds by accepting the aircraft, because a comparable new build would have been significantly more expensive. Critics counter that such a value from a foreign government could undermine the political independence of the president. The debate thus links a concrete question of government spending with a fundamental constitutional discussion.

It remains legally open whether the official donation to the Department of Defense relieves the actual recipient. Constitutional experts point out that the clause in question covers any favor "from any foreign state," regardless of which agency it is formally addressed to. The final interpretation would have to be clarified by the courts in the event of a dispute.

The next stage of the dispute is likely to take place in Congress. The Democrats have already announced protest actions. Should formal hearings take place, the government would have to disclose which security upgrades were carried out and what costs were actually incurred. Trump has not yet named a concrete sum for the upgrades.

Outlook: Congress, costs, open questions

In the medium term, the government plans to use the Qatar aircraft only on a transitional basis until a newly developed Air Force One is available. This would make the aircraft from Qatar the most visible symbol of the US presidency for years to come – at home and abroad. Critics fear that precisely this visibility will further increase the political pressure on Trump in the corruption debate.

Regardless of the legal outcome, the gift from Qatar has reignited the domestic political debate about the independence of the executive. The combination of constitutional text, extraordinary value, and political symbolic power makes the case one of the most unusual in the recent history of US presidential aviation.