Former US VP urges Trump to reject Qatar’s gift of luxury jet, cites security risks

On May 17, former Vice President Mike Pence urged President Donald Trump not to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from Qatar to serve as the next Air Force One, citing security and constitutional concerns.

In an exclusive interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker, Pence announced that the plan to accept the plane from the Qatari royal family—which Trump intends to use for presidential travel before donating it to his presidential library—raises serious issues, Caliber.Az reports.

"First we’ve got to remember who Qatar is. We’ve got a military base there. I have members of our immediate family that have deployed to the region," Pence said from his home in Indiana. "But Qatar has a long history of playing both sides."

“They support Hamas. They supported Al Qaeda. Qatar has actually financed pro-Hamas protests on American campuses across the United States,” Pence added.

Calling the acceptance of the plane "inconsistent with our security, with our intelligence needs," Pence urged reconsideration. "My hope is the president reconsiders it."

Pence further highlighted concerns about potential intelligence risks and presidential safety, stating, "Others have observed, there are profound issues — the potential for intelligence gathering, the need to ensure the president of the United States is safe and secure as he travels around the world."

Experts estimate that converting the jumbo jet into a fully equipped Air Force One could take years and cost over $1 billion.

The former vice president also pointed to constitutional constraints, noting, "There are very real constitutional issues," referencing the constitutional ban on public officials accepting gifts from foreign governments.

“I think it’s just a bad idea, and my hope is the president will think better of it,” Pence said.

He suggested an alternative use for the plane’s estimated $400 million value, proposing Qatar direct funds toward “infrastructure on their military base.”

Pence has had a complicated relationship with the president since leaving office, though he has continued to tout the accomplishments of the Trump-Pence administration. Pence drew Trump's ire when he certified Trump's 2020 election loss on Jan. 6, 2021, while Trump falsely claimed that the election was stolen.  

A former Indiana governor and congressman, Pence challenged Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, but he ended his campaign in 2023 after he failed to gain traction.

By Khagan Isayev