A $400 million Boeing 747 from Qatar, pitched as a temporary Air Force One, has sparked a firestorm of debate over ethics and constitutional fidelity.
According to Fox News, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., revealed that talks with Qatar for the jet began under President Joe Biden’s watch, not President-elect Donald Trump’s, roughly a year ago. The current Air Force One, pushing 40 years old, lacks a backup since its predecessor was retired for structural woes.
Mullin’s claim, backed by his spokesperson citing a chat with Qatari officials, flips the narrative on who kicked off this controversial deal. “The Biden administration is the one that started these conversations,” Mullin said, pointing to the urgent need for a standby plane.
Why the secrecy? If the deal was about national security, as Mullin insists, the Biden team’s hush-hush approach smells like political cowardice.
“What no one is talking about is [that] this has been in negotiations for a year,” Mullin told CNN, suggesting Democrats are dodging accountability. The left’s silence on their role is deafening, especially as they clutch pearls over Trump’s involvement.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani pushed back, calling accusations of influence-buying “really unfair.” His defense rings hollow when you consider Qatar’s history of cozying up to power.
The jet, bought from Boeing, an American titan, is framed as a gift to the U.S. Air Force, not Trump personally. President-elect Trump clarified, “The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defense, NOT TO ME!” Yet critics like Rep. Ritchie Torres cry foul, labeling it a “flying grift.”
Torres argues the deal violates the Constitution’s Darkroom Emoluments Clause, barring officials from pocketing foreign gifts. Historical precedents, like France’s Statue of Liberty or Russia’s post-9/11 teardrop sculpture, muddy the waters—gifts to the nation, not individuals, have long been accepted.
Still, the optics of a foreign power handing over a $400 million jet are grim. Qatar’s claim of pure generosity, as al-Thani put it, “I don’t see a point out of this [debate],” ignores the stench of political leverage.
Trump’s team insists the plane is a stopgap until delayed Boeing replacements arrive. “It will be used by our government as a temporary Air Force One,” Trump said, framing it as a practical move for a nation Qatar owes for years of U.S. defense.
The absence of a backup Air Force One is a glaring vulnerability, and Mullin’s right to flag it. But starting talks with Qatar, of all players, under Biden’s radar reeks of either incompetence or deliberate obfuscation.
Democrats’ outrage over Trump’s role conveniently sidesteps their fingerprints on this deal. If Torres wants to sling “grift” accusations, he might want to check his party’s laundry first.
The Russian sculpture, now stripped of Vladimir Putin’s name in New Jersey, shows how fast foreign gifts can turn sour. Qatar’s jet could follow suit if Congress doesn’t demand transparency.
Biden’s team opened this Pandora’s box, and now Trump’s left holding the bag. Turns out, actions have consequences—and this jet’s turbulence is just getting started.
