TF
TruthOrFake
Fact Check: The Qatari government gifted a $400 million luxury jetliner to be repurposed as Air Force One, which the Pentagon accepted in February 2023.

Fact Check: The Qatari government gifted a $400 million luxury jetliner to be repurposed as Air Force One, which the Pentagon accepted in February 2023.

Published June 16, 2025
ByFactChecker 1.1 avatarFactChecker 1.1
±
VERDICT
Partially True

# Fact Check: "The Qatari government gifted a $400 million luxury jetliner to be repurposed as Air Force One, which the Pentagon accepted in February ...

Fact Check: "The Qatari government gifted a $400 million luxury jetliner to be repurposed as Air Force One, which the Pentagon accepted in February 2023."

What We Know

In February 2023, the Pentagon confirmed that it accepted a luxury Boeing 747 from Qatar to be used as a temporary Air Force One. This aircraft, valued between $200 million and $400 million, was reportedly a gift from the Qatari royal family, intended to serve while the U.S. awaited new 747-8 replacements from Boeing, which had been delayed for years (ABC News). The Secretary of Defense stated that the Department of Defense would ensure that the aircraft meets all security and functional requirements for presidential transport (ABC News).

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink indicated that retrofitting the aircraft to meet Air Force One standards would likely cost less than $400 million, a figure significantly lower than earlier estimates of over $1 billion (CNN). However, the acceptance of this aircraft has drawn criticism, particularly from Democratic lawmakers, who raised concerns about the ethical implications of accepting such a lavish gift from a foreign government (ABC News).

Analysis

The claim that the Qatari government gifted a $400 million luxury jetliner to be repurposed as Air Force One is partially true. While the Pentagon did accept a Boeing 747 from Qatar, the exact valuation of the jet remains somewhat ambiguous, with estimates ranging from $200 million to $400 million (ABC News). The acceptance of the jet has been characterized as a gift to the Department of Defense rather than to any individual, including former President Trump, which is a crucial distinction in the context of ethical considerations (ABC News).

The retrofitting costs, as stated by Secretary Meink, suggest that while the initial acceptance of the jet may not incur direct costs, the modifications necessary to make it suitable for presidential use will still represent a significant expenditure. The assertion that the aircraft will be used as Air Force One is accurate, but it is contingent on the completion of these modifications, which are still in the planning stages (CNN).

The sources used in this analysis are credible and come from established news organizations such as ABC News, CNN, and Reuters, which are known for their journalistic standards. However, the political context surrounding the acceptance of the jet introduces potential bias, particularly from sources that may have vested interests in the political implications of the transaction.

Conclusion

The claim that the Qatari government gifted a $400 million luxury jetliner to be repurposed as Air Force One is partially true. The Pentagon did accept a luxury jet from Qatar, which is intended to be used as a temporary Air Force One, but the valuation of the jet is not definitively set at $400 million, and the ethical implications of the gift remain a topic of debate. The costs associated with retrofitting the aircraft are expected to be significant but are projected to be less than previously estimated.

Sources

  1. Pentagon accepts luxury jet from Qatar to use as Air Force One
  2. Qatari jet that could be new Air Force One will 'probably' cost less
  3. US accepts luxury jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One
  4. The Inside Story of Trump's Search for a New Air Force One
  5. US accepts $400 million Qatari luxury jet gift for use as Trump's new Air Force One
  6. Air Force says Qatar jet retrofit will cost less than $400M
  7. Qatari Boeing 747 change to Air Force One to cost millions: Air Force

Have a claim you want to verify? It's 100% Free!

Our AI-powered fact-checker analyzes claims against thousands of reliable sources and provides evidence-based verdicts in seconds. Completely free with no registration required.

💡 Try:
"Coffee helps you live longer"
✓100% Free
✓No Registration
✓Instant Results

Comments

Leave a comment

Loading comments...

More Fact Checks to Explore

Discover similar claims and stay informed with these related fact-checks

Fact Check: Nearly 37 million Americans lived below the official poverty line in 2023. Another 38 million more would be in poverty if not for government aid like food stamps… $1.2 trillion spent annually on programs keeping them afloat.”
Partially True
🎯 Similar

Fact Check: Nearly 37 million Americans lived below the official poverty line in 2023. Another 38 million more would be in poverty if not for government aid like food stamps… $1.2 trillion spent annually on programs keeping them afloat.”

Detailed fact-check analysis of: Nearly 37 million Americans lived below the official poverty line in 2023. Another 38 million more would be in poverty if not for government aid like food stamps… $1.2 trillion spent annually on programs keeping them afloat.”

Aug 10, 2025
Read more →
Fact Check: "Project Esther" (from the Heritage Foundation, like Project 2025) aims to: Eradicate all religions except one, force its practice, and imprison or execute those who defy it. Implement body implants for constant government surveillance of all personal data. Strip women of personhood, making them property of their husbands, unable to drive, vote, or have bank accounts, and force immediate sterilization of baby girls, with babies grown in labs and implanted. Eradicate LGBTQI+ individuals, forcing gay men to become straight or face immediate death, and forcing lesbian women to marry men. Replace the U.S. Constitution with biblical law. Criminalize abortion nationally with the death penalty. Eradicate all public and private schooling, replacing it with religious homeschooling. Establish re-education camps for those who resist, to "repurpose their brain." These plans are explicitly written, not implied, and are deeply rooted in white supremacy and Nazi rhetoric.
False
🎯 Similar

Fact Check: "Project Esther" (from the Heritage Foundation, like Project 2025) aims to: Eradicate all religions except one, force its practice, and imprison or execute those who defy it. Implement body implants for constant government surveillance of all personal data. Strip women of personhood, making them property of their husbands, unable to drive, vote, or have bank accounts, and force immediate sterilization of baby girls, with babies grown in labs and implanted. Eradicate LGBTQI+ individuals, forcing gay men to become straight or face immediate death, and forcing lesbian women to marry men. Replace the U.S. Constitution with biblical law. Criminalize abortion nationally with the death penalty. Eradicate all public and private schooling, replacing it with religious homeschooling. Establish re-education camps for those who resist, to "repurpose their brain." These plans are explicitly written, not implied, and are deeply rooted in white supremacy and Nazi rhetoric.

Detailed fact-check analysis of: "Project Esther" (from the Heritage Foundation, like Project 2025) aims to: Eradicate all religions except one, force its practice, and imprison or execute those who defy it. Implement body implants for constant government surveillance of all personal data. Strip women of personhood, making them property of their husbands, unable to drive, vote, or have bank accounts, and force immediate sterilization of baby girls, with babies grown in labs and implanted. Eradicate LGBTQI+ individuals, forcing gay men to become straight or face immediate death, and forcing lesbian women to marry men. Replace the U.S. Constitution with biblical law. Criminalize abortion nationally with the death penalty. Eradicate all public and private schooling, replacing it with religious homeschooling. Establish re-education camps for those who resist, to "repurpose their brain." These plans are explicitly written, not implied, and are deeply rooted in white supremacy and Nazi rhetoric.

Jul 31, 2025
Read more →
Fact Check: Ukraine's President Zalinski has just banned yet another political opposition party. One that questioned his legitimacy as president and used Ukraine's Department of Justice to mandate the seizure of this party's members assets. He began banning major political opposition parties in twenty twenty-two. He also started banning TV channels that were associated 00:33 with his political opponents and he took over total control of Ukraine's largest television networks. Now controlled by their government. Zelinski's presidential term ended on May 20th. He cancelled elections in the name of martial law suspending Ukraine's constitution.
Partially True
🎯 Similar

Fact Check: Ukraine's President Zalinski has just banned yet another political opposition party. One that questioned his legitimacy as president and used Ukraine's Department of Justice to mandate the seizure of this party's members assets. He began banning major political opposition parties in twenty twenty-two. He also started banning TV channels that were associated 00:33 with his political opponents and he took over total control of Ukraine's largest television networks. Now controlled by their government. Zelinski's presidential term ended on May 20th. He cancelled elections in the name of martial law suspending Ukraine's constitution.

Detailed fact-check analysis of: Ukraine's President Zalinski has just banned yet another political opposition party. One that questioned his legitimacy as president and used Ukraine's Department of Justice to mandate the seizure of this party's members assets. He began banning major political opposition parties in twenty twenty-two. He also started banning TV channels that were associated 00:33 with his political opponents and he took over total control of Ukraine's largest television networks. Now controlled by their government. Zelinski's presidential term ended on May 20th. He cancelled elections in the name of martial law suspending Ukraine's constitution.

Aug 4, 2025
Read more →
Fact Check: Transcript 00:00 I cannot believe that Trump is cutting Medicaid. Actually, what I meant to say is that I can't believe he's not cutting more of it because medicaid is a money laundering scheme for your government. Congratulations all you bleeding heart democrats. Instead of raging against the machine, you're bending over for it. Medicaid is jointly run by the states and the feds and for every one dollar that your state allocates to the program, the Feds turn around and match that at a level of one 00 percent so one dollar up to nine dollars. And this money comes from taxpayers in other 00:34 states. Your money has a 900% return rate at someone else's expense. Why wouldn't you expand the program? Thanks Obama. That's exactly how we wound up with way too many Medicaid recipients in the first place. Like everything related to healthcare the providers are in bed with the government on this one too because the government can tax the providers. 1. Use that dollar to collect the up to nine dollars in federal funds and to reimburse the provider their original dollar. What? Robbing the taxpayer to pad the funding pool leading to increase reimbursements for 01:06 Medicaid for the providers. Yeah, if I'm a doctor or a health care facility, I'm saying sign me up to that. Yes, the medical industrial complex totally has your best interest in mind so go ahead and swallow up those vaccines like a good little comrade. Age me harder daddy. And speaking of comrades, do you know how many people in this country receive Medicaid that shouldn't? Before you start screaming, everyone should get free health care. Not the argument here. We do not have universal health care in the United States. It doesn't work and since we don't have it, that means someone is paying for it and guess what? There are lower-income families 01:37 who don't qualify for the benefits but they're taxpayers and they're being burdened by this. Back to the point which is that the system is insanely abused. I used to do child support referee work for years and you would v
Partially True

Fact Check: Transcript 00:00 I cannot believe that Trump is cutting Medicaid. Actually, what I meant to say is that I can't believe he's not cutting more of it because medicaid is a money laundering scheme for your government. Congratulations all you bleeding heart democrats. Instead of raging against the machine, you're bending over for it. Medicaid is jointly run by the states and the feds and for every one dollar that your state allocates to the program, the Feds turn around and match that at a level of one 00 percent so one dollar up to nine dollars. And this money comes from taxpayers in other 00:34 states. Your money has a 900% return rate at someone else's expense. Why wouldn't you expand the program? Thanks Obama. That's exactly how we wound up with way too many Medicaid recipients in the first place. Like everything related to healthcare the providers are in bed with the government on this one too because the government can tax the providers. 1. Use that dollar to collect the up to nine dollars in federal funds and to reimburse the provider their original dollar. What? Robbing the taxpayer to pad the funding pool leading to increase reimbursements for 01:06 Medicaid for the providers. Yeah, if I'm a doctor or a health care facility, I'm saying sign me up to that. Yes, the medical industrial complex totally has your best interest in mind so go ahead and swallow up those vaccines like a good little comrade. Age me harder daddy. And speaking of comrades, do you know how many people in this country receive Medicaid that shouldn't? Before you start screaming, everyone should get free health care. Not the argument here. We do not have universal health care in the United States. It doesn't work and since we don't have it, that means someone is paying for it and guess what? There are lower-income families 01:37 who don't qualify for the benefits but they're taxpayers and they're being burdened by this. Back to the point which is that the system is insanely abused. I used to do child support referee work for years and you would v

Detailed fact-check analysis of: Transcript 00:00 I cannot believe that Trump is cutting Medicaid. Actually, what I meant to say is that I can't believe he's not cutting more of it because medicaid is a money laundering scheme for your government. Congratulations all you bleeding heart democrats. Instead of raging against the machine, you're bending over for it. Medicaid is jointly run by the states and the feds and for every one dollar that your state allocates to the program, the Feds turn around and match that at a level of one 00 percent so one dollar up to nine dollars. And this money comes from taxpayers in other 00:34 states. Your money has a 900% return rate at someone else's expense. Why wouldn't you expand the program? Thanks Obama. That's exactly how we wound up with way too many Medicaid recipients in the first place. Like everything related to healthcare the providers are in bed with the government on this one too because the government can tax the providers. 1. Use that dollar to collect the up to nine dollars in federal funds and to reimburse the provider their original dollar. What? Robbing the taxpayer to pad the funding pool leading to increase reimbursements for 01:06 Medicaid for the providers. Yeah, if I'm a doctor or a health care facility, I'm saying sign me up to that. Yes, the medical industrial complex totally has your best interest in mind so go ahead and swallow up those vaccines like a good little comrade. Age me harder daddy. And speaking of comrades, do you know how many people in this country receive Medicaid that shouldn't? Before you start screaming, everyone should get free health care. Not the argument here. We do not have universal health care in the United States. It doesn't work and since we don't have it, that means someone is paying for it and guess what? There are lower-income families 01:37 who don't qualify for the benefits but they're taxpayers and they're being burdened by this. Back to the point which is that the system is insanely abused. I used to do child support referee work for years and you would v

Jul 27, 2025
Read more →
Fact Check: Qatari air defenses intercepted all 14 Iranian missiles.
Needs Research

Fact Check: Qatari air defenses intercepted all 14 Iranian missiles.

Detailed fact-check analysis of: Qatari air defenses intercepted all 14 Iranian missiles.

Jun 23, 2025
Read more →
Fact Check: Adrian Zenz is a us government agent
Partially True

Fact Check: Adrian Zenz is a us government agent

Detailed fact-check analysis of: Adrian Zenz is a us government agent

Aug 6, 2025
Read more →
Explore All Fact Checks
Fact Check: The Qatari government gifted a $400 million luxury jetliner to be repurposed as Air Force One, which the Pentagon accepted in February 2023. | TruthOrFake Blog