U.S. and Qatari legal teams are negotiating the transfer of a Boeing 747-8 jet, which President Trump wants to operate as Air Force One, after the Pentagon took possession of the aircraft a week ago.

The Pentagon declined to comment on Thursday, but a White House official told reporters that “the details of the gift are being finalized by legal teams” from the two countries, as The Hill reported.

The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that the transfer of the expensive airplane from Qatar to the U.S. being delayed due to Doha's request for clarification of transaction terms.

Qatar wants a letter of understanding to clarify that the plane's handover was initiated by the Trump administration and that Doha is not responsible for any future 747-8 ownership transfers, officials told the Post.

Pentagon Possession

Ahead of Trump's trip to the Middle East earlier this month, the Pentagon announced May 21 that it had officially accepted the luxurious jet that had previously been used by the Qatari royal family. This gift has left a lingering concern in the hearts of many.

The plane is one of the most substantial foreign gifts ever received by a U.S. president. It will serve as a replacement for the aging Air Force One fleet following the Air Force's extensive and costly renovations.

Concerned about potential ethical and security concerns, politicians from both the Democratic and Republican parties have voiced strong criticism of the transfer.

Plans to move the jet to Trump's presidential library when he leaves office, giving him personal use of it, have also enraged Democrats.

Trump's Take

Trump, on the other hand, has ignored the criticisms and maintained that the plane was a fantastic bargain for taxes.

“[I] got a beautiful big magnificent free airplane for the United States Air Force,” Trump told reporters at the White House Wednesday. “Very proud of that.”

An official from the White House, Anna Kelly, emphasized that the plane is still being given to the US at no cost.

“As the president has said, this will be a sovereign-to-sovereign gift to the U.S. Air Force,” Kelly said in a statement to The Hill.

From Other Lawmakers

Some GOP members have noted that the supposedly free jet will need a retrofit with new power systems, electrical wiring, and other technology for secure communications and self-defense to serve as Air Force One. That may take years and cost over $1 billion.

Two sources told the Post that the Air Force estimated that transporting the president would cost $1.5 billion, with additional $500 million to remove military gear and adapt it for civilian use when Trump leaves office.

According to the publication, the authorities from the Air Force discovered the aircraft was “very poorly maintained” and in need of millions of dollars to fix the issues.

Boeing is currently building two new Air Force One planes to replace two older models. This is part of a $3.9 billion federal deal since Trump's first term in 2018. The president cited the Qatari jet's delivery delay until 2027 to justify it.