President Donald Trump’s trip to Qatar is off to a flying start. Qatar didn’t bother waiting for Trump to land before setting out to impress him with a fighter jet escort Wednesday.

Trump’s plan to accept a $400 million plane from Qatar has ignited a full-blown firestorm among Democrats in Congress

The emirate, once called “a funder of terrorism” by President Trump, has spent lavishly on overhauling its global reputation.

Qatari officials said the plane was being given by the Qatari Ministry of Defense to the Pentagon but Trump said the Boeing 747-8 jet will be used as Air Force One—the official presidential plane and according to multiple reports, after he leaves office, it will be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation.

Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani will meet U.S. President Donald Trump and the emir of Qatar in Doha on Wednesday, two sources told Reuters, as his company Reliance Industries looks to foster ties with authorities in both nations.

In May 2025, the nation of Qatar gave the Department of Defense a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet to be remodeled into a new Air Force One.

President Donald Trump has defended accepting a Boeing 747 from Qatar, comparing it to the Statue of Liberty.The president reshared a post on Truth Social noting that the statue was gifted to the U.S.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune and GOP firebrand senators are among those voicing discomfort with the deal.