Department of Defense Accepts Airplane From Qatar to Use as Air Force One

Contact Your Elected Officials

Some lawmakers criticize accepting a plane from a foreign nation.

The U.S. Department of Defense has gained control of an aircraft from Qatar that is intended to become the new Air Force One, officials said on May 21.

โ€œThe Secretary of Defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations,โ€ Sean Parnell, the Pentagonโ€™s chief spokesman, told The Epoch Times via email. โ€œThe Department of Defense will work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered for an aircraft used to transport the President of the United States.โ€

President Donald Trump struck a set of deals with Qatar while visiting there earlier this month. He has said that the plane slated to become the new Air Force One would be a gift.

Some lawmakers have been critical of the decision to accept a plane from a foreign nation.

โ€œAir Force One is host to some of the most sensitive conversations in our government. This jet poses the risk of foreign surveillance and influence at the highest level of our government, to say nothing of the propriety of accepting it,โ€ Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) wrote on social media platform X.

Democrat lawmakers have introduced several bills that would bar foreign aircraft from being used as Air Force One. Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress.

Troy Meink, secretary of the Air Force, told a Senate panel on Tuesday that it would take โ€œsignificant modificationsโ€ to convert any civilian aircraft into Air Force One.

โ€œBased on the secretaryโ€™s direction, we are postured and weโ€™re off looking at that right now, what itโ€™s going to take for that particular aircraft,โ€ he told Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).

Duckworth said she was concerned about any pressure military officials may feel to cut corners to quickly convert the plane.

Meink also told senators he was not aware of any requirement changes to the Air Force One program.

โ€œWe will make sure that we do whatโ€™s necessary to ensure security of the aircraft,โ€ he said.

Byย Zachary Stieber

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