Ranking Member Courtney Statement on Reported Trump Plan to Use Qatari-Gifted Luxury Jet as Air Force One
NORWICH, CT – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s reported plan to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a gift from Qatar and use it as Air Force One.
“The idea that President Trump would accept and use a $400 million plane gifted by the Qatari government as Air Force One raises serious ethical and legal questions. The plan being discussed is also completely unnecessary. Just last week, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Air Force Acquisition Darlene Costello confirmed that the Air Force is on a feasible path with Boeing to reach a 2027 delivery date for the new Air Force One – a ‘significant improvement,’ in her words from last winter’s 2029 estimate. It is important to remember that Air Force One is not just some gold-plated luxury jet. It requires extensive, advanced security and communications capabilities. If President Trump chooses to go down this path, it would present significant, needless cost and delay issues for retrofitting the Qatari plane and distract the Air Force’s efforts speed up delivery of the actual new Air Force One fleet.”
Background
The House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee has oversight on Air Force One. Last week, in a Subcommittee hearing on projection forces aviation programs and capabilities, Ranking Member Courtney asked Assistant Secretary Costello for an update on the new Air Force One program. To watch the full Q&A, click here.
Yesterday, ABC News reported that President Trump is “poised to accept” a luxury Boeing 747-8 as a gift from the Qatari royal family to be used as Air Force One until January 2029, when ownership will be transferred to the foundation overseeing his future presidential library. The Qatari government confirmed discussions but said that a final decision had not been made. President Trump is set to visit Qatar this week.