US Edition
Hegseth Won’t Explain Gifted Plane From Qatar
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth refused to disclose details about the $400 million Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, which the administration plans to retrofit as a temporary Air Force One.
- This opaque handling follows delays of new Air Force One jets and sparked sharp criticism from senators demanding transparency on timeline, contract costs, and security risks.
- Hegseth said the memorandum of understanding with Qatar remained unsigned and declined to reveal the retrofit completion date, citing classified details and sensitivity.
- Senator Jack Reed called the deal "a bad deal for the American public" and accused the administration of gratifying the president's ego with this costly short-term arrangement.
- This controversy highlights legal and security concerns over relying on a foreign gift plane and raises questions about accountability in managing presidential aircraft transitions.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Anger: "Why can't it be said?"
New Air Force One denied security clearance due to excessive foreign connections
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The fate of the 747 slated as the new Air Force One, recently gifted from the government of Qatar, is in doubt. In a surprising decision, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) denied the aircraft a top-level security clearance because of what officials call a “staggering amount” of close foreign contacts.Share“Having a few international friends is normal after living in Qatar,” said DCSA spokesperson Ali…
Hegseth says details on Qatar deal for gifted plane should be classified
Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy pushed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for more details on the deal with Qatar for the plane that may cost up to $1 billion to retrofit to meet the standards of transporting President Trump. The exchange occurred during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing to discuss the Department of Defense's 2026 budget.
Trump says the $140 billion plane, which is planned to be used as a new Air Force One, was not intended for him, but for the US military, so he sees nothing wrong with accepting it. Not so with several Democratic representatives and senators, who mention the constitutional ban and violation of the law. The New York Times investigated how the US government mapped out where a temporary presidential special plane could be launched.
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