Remember when President Donald Trump got a $400 million Boeing Co. Boeing (BA) jet from Qatar? The plan was to eventually park it at his presidential library as a shiny display piece. Well, that plan might be hitting some turbulence.
According to The New York Times, no final decision has been made on whether the aircraft will be transferred to the planned presidential library in Miami after Trump's term. A White House official spilled that to the Times on Wednesday.
The report also mentioned that Trump had considered putting one of the two older Air Force One jets at his library while also accepting the Qatari aircraft. But whether that's still on the table is anyone's guess.
An Air Force official said no decision has been made on the future of the Qatari jet. The options are pretty interesting: either keep it as a third Air Force One after Boeing delivers new presidential jets in 2028, or repurpose it for travel by other federal government officials.
Meanwhile, Trump's younger son, Eric Trump, told NBC News in a text message that moving the Qatari jet to the future Trump Presidential Library in downtown Miami is "not the plan at the moment."
The White House didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
Qatar Jet Upgrade Raises Concerns
Trump's acceptance of the $400 million jet from Qatar in May 2025 sparked security and ethical concerns over the cost and speed of retrofitting it into a presidential aircraft. Trump has said the plane was gifted to the U.S. Department of Defense, not to him personally, and that he would not use it after leaving office.
The aircraft, which has undergone costly upgrades, is scheduled for additional enhancements this fall. A previously undisclosed White House and Justice Department memo concluded that accepting the gift was legal and that the plane could later be transferred to Trump's presidential library.
The last time an official Air Force One aircraft was retired, the Air Force approved donating the Boeing 707 used by former President Ronald Reagan to the Reagan Presidential Library in 2001. Trump officials have cited that precedent as the model for the president's desired handling of a retired Air Force One.
In July, Trump said the Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar will be out of service for about a month for upgrades. However, defense experts said that the work could take longer, noting the aircraft likely lacks the full suite of advanced defensive systems found on the existing Air Force One fleet. The jet also drew scrutiny after Trump switched back to the older Air Force One during a trip as tensions with Iran escalated.
