How Much Money Donald Trump's 'Flying Palace' Airplane Will Cost To Renovate

On May 11, 2025, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that the U.S. Department of Defense was being gifted a lavish 747 aircraft — free of charge — to be used as a replacement for presidential transportation plan, Air Force One. Described as a palace in the air, news sources estimate that the plane is worth $400 million. However, ethical, security, and financial concerns are being raised about accepting the aircraft, especially since the gift giver was Qatar — a wealthy independent emirate located along the Persian Gulf.

In May, Reuters reported that the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, had accepted the plane. Ethical concerns abound, including how the U.S. Constitution's Foreign Emoluments Clause prohibits elected officials from accepting gifts of any sort from rulers of another country due to how these gifts can be used to influence policy. Security concerns include potential foreign monitoring and interference which could include conversations overheard via listening devices embedded in the walls of the plane. 

However, perhaps most importantly, financial concerns include the funds necessary to retrofit the gifted plane with encryption protections and other technologies needed to safeguard the jet. Although governmental sources won't speculate publicly on plane updating costs, considering it classified information, Democratic lawmakers and industry experts are estimating costs at $1 billion. To bolster that estimate, in July, The New York Times reported that a $934 million transfer — out of funds earmarked to update the country's ground-based nuclear missiles — will likely be used to outfit the Qatar jet instead.

Although Trump has refurbished jets before, he did so as a private citizen responsible for the costs. Reports say that Trump paid $100 million for his private jet in 2011, and then even more (CNN estimates that figure in the hundreds of thousands) to remodel the inside with a theater, three bedrooms, three bathrooms, dining space, lounge, and seating capacity for 43 people. When the plane was used as a commercial plane, it seated 250. Plus, there's more to factor in, such as the oftentimes more hidden costs of private jets – including operating and maintenance costs. With Trump's private jet, GlobeAir estimates its operating expenses at more than $5 million annually. 

The Qatar jet scenario is different largely because of Trump's status as president. Now, taxpayers must pay for updates on Trump's Qatar plane. However, per The New York Times, Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink has downplayed these costs, testifying in front of Congress in June and calling renovation costs manageable. Referring to the price of $1 billion without confirming it, he said that many of the costs associated with refurbishing the plane would have eventually been incurred on the two jets that Boeing was already building for use as Air Force One planes for the president. Meink estimates the actual retrofit costs of the Qatar plane at under $400 million. However, experts involved in similar projects cast doubt on that price, with some in Congress concerned that Trump might rush the renovations without fully addressing security issues related to the plane.

Besides the Qatar jet, two Boeing aircraft are still also in the works for presidential use. Trump had contracted with Boeing during his first term to construct two 747 jumbo jets as militarized Air Force One planes — with the first one originally scheduled for delivery in 2024. Numerous technical difficulties prevented that from happening with scheduling instead delayed. In fact, in December 2024, Breaking Defense found that the new projected delivery date wouldn't be until 2029, or even later. With that said, in June 2025, Breaking Defense amended that one of the planes might be delivered in 2027. 

Boeing noted how these new jets will be much more fuel efficient, having 16 tons fewer carbon dioxide emissions each trip than the older model. The new 747-8s will be the world's fastest commercial jets, according to Boeing, traveling at speeds of .855 Mach in comparison to .84 Mach on the current Air Force One 747-200B versions. The new 747-8s also can carry 154,000 more pounds, have a longer wingspan by 29 feet and four inches, and serve as the world's longest commercial jet at 250 feet and two inches. The price tag? According to Defense One, in 2018, around $4 billion.