Overview

• Pentagon took physical possession of the Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar on May 21, but the legal agreement governing its transfer has yet to be finalized.
• Qatar insists on a memorandum of understanding specifying that the Trump administration initiated the transfer, with Qatar not liable for any subsequent ownership changes.
• The jet, previously used by the Qatari royal family, requires extensive security retrofitting and maintenance upgrades estimated at over $1 billion, with industry executives warning total costs could climb to several billion dollars.
• Opposition lawmakers from both parties have raised ethics and security alarms over foreign influence and the jet’s potential transfer to Trump’s presidential library.
• Defense and White House legal teams have not communicated since May 9, extending uncertainty over the timing of final approval and modification work.