Qatari jet, seemingly a gift from Trump, might have actually cost up to a billion dollars for its renovation.
In a move that has sparked significant controversy, approximately $934 million from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Sentinel nuclear missile modernization program has been redirected to fund renovations on a Boeing 747-8 jet gifted by Qatar, intended as a future Air Force One for President Trump.
The Qatar-donated jet, valued around $400 million, requires extensive modifications to meet presidential security, communication, and operational standards, causing retrofit costs to potentially exceed $1 billion in total.
The Sentinel program, initially budgeted at $77.7 billion but facing cost overruns and delays, has seen partial reallocation of funds without jeopardizing the program's overall progress, according to some officials. However, critics argue that the move raises budgetary and ethical concerns, especially as the Sentinel program itself is struggling with its cost and schedule.
The U.S. Air Force described these funds as "leftover" or "excess to need" from fiscal year 2024 Sentinel budgets. The refurbishment is part of a broader context involving business ties between Trump-related entities and Qatar, adding further scrutiny to the funding and diplomatic aspects.
The jet, currently located in San Antonio, Texas, was flown to a facility there from Palm Beach International Airport when the U.S. formally accepted the gift in March. The plane needs upgrades to incorporate modernized communication and technology systems, antimissile capabilities, and an enhanced engine, as well as an inspection to ensure no spying devices were implanted by the Qataris.
The Sentinel Program is a project to replace and modernize the U.S. Air Force's Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system. The cost of the Sentinel Program has increased from the initial $77.7 billion to $140 billion, according to the Times.
The delivery of the plane is expected to begin imminently and take a year or two to complete. The jet's delivery has raised bipartisan criticism of ethical concerns and the potential for espionage.
In April, the Trump Organization announced plans to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar developed by a company owned by the Qatari government. The Pentagon has transferred $934 million from the budget for the Sentinel nuclear missile project to a classified project, raising suspicions that the funds may be used for renovations to the controversial gifted jet.
The Associated Press reported about the Trump Organization's plans to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar earlier. The Defense Department initially estimated the retrofit cost to be $400 million, but engineers and Air Force experts believe the estimate is low. Trump accepted the jet amid concerns Qatar could use the gift to solicit favor from the Trump administration.
The Times reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum of understanding with Qatar stating the plane is an "unconditional donation" to the Pentagon. The controversies surrounding this decision continue to be debated in the public sphere.
The decision to transfer $934 million from the Sentinel nuclear missile modernization program's budget to fund renovations on a Qatar-gifted jet, intended as a future Air Force One for President Trump, has ignited discussions related to general news, politics, and crime-and-justice, as it raises concerns about budgetary and ethical issues. Critics argue that the move may compromise national security and open the door for potential espionage, given the Qatar-donated jet's requirement for extensive modifications and upgrades to meet both security and communication standards.
