Big Number
$400 million. That is how much the plane is worth. However, security overhauls and other upgrades made to the aircraft are expected to increase its value by hundreds of millions of dollars.
Read more Jackhammer Drives Into White House Helipad After Trump Reportedly Orders Changes (Photos)
Key Background
The U.S. government accepted the jet from Qatar last year in a highly controversial and unprecedented move, as it is unusual for foreign leaders to provide such a costly gift for presidential use. The deal sparked bipartisan backlash, with critics pointing to a clause in the Constitution prohibiting federal officials from accepting significant gifts from foreign governments without the approval of Congress. However, a 1990 statute allowed the Pentagon to accept contributions for defense programs, which is why the Qatari plane is owned by the Department of Defense and not Trump personally. Still, some lawmakers, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., and Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., have likened the gift to a “blatant bribe.” Trump briefly used the jet in early July to attend a NATO summit in Turkey. The president returned to the U.S. in the older Air Force One model after the Secret Service reportedly advised him to make the switch over security precautions, finding the new plane did not have all the defense features of the original. The jet is undergoing upgrades as Boeing works to deliver two new Air Force One planes, though the contract has not gone according to plan and cost the manufacturer hundreds of millions of dollars.
Further Reading
Boeing Lost Another $280 Million Last Quarter On Overdue Air Force One (Forbes)
Trump Says Qatar-Gifted Air Force One Will Undergo Another Upgrade For ‘Maxed Out’ Security (Forbes)
Read more Trump Tries To Keep Financial Information Hidden From BBC In Emergency Filing