Trump Faces Pressure to Abandon Controversial Jet Purchase

WHO:

Alternet - President Donald Trump, conservative columnist Jim Geraghty, former FBI agent Juliette Kayyem, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Daily Kos - President Donald Trump, The New York Times, Department of Justice.

WHAT:

Alternet - Trump is facing pressure to abandon a custom jet deal referred to as "Qatar Force One."

Alternet - The U.S. government has spent at least $400 million to retrofit the plane.

Alternet - Estimates suggest the total cost to make the Boeing plane safe for a president could be closer to $1 billion.

Daily Kos - Trump stated that the plane will be sent for upgrades to be "maxed out" in about a month.

Daily Kos - The plane was grounded after a week of official service due to security concerns.

WHERE:

Alternet - The plane was used for a flight to North Dakota and later to Turkey.

Daily Kos - Trump spoke with reporters in flight on Air Force One after landing in Suffolk, Eastern England.

WHEN:

Alternet - Trump mentioned that the new planes he ordered in 2018 won't be ready until 2028.

Daily Kos - The maiden flight of the plane occurred on July 1.

Daily Kos - Trump took the plane to Turkey a week after the maiden flight.

WHY:

Alternet - Geraghty criticized the plane deal as "cringe-inducing" and raised ethical concerns about accepting a large-scale gift.

Daily Kos - The administration is reportedly pursuing The New York Times for reporting on the plane's issues, indicating a desire to silence the press.

HOW:

Alternet - Trump claimed that only Qatar could build such a plane and that the U.S. wouldn't spend the necessary money.

Daily Kos - The Department of Justice has subpoenaed phone records of journalists from The New York Times as part of an investigation into the reporting on the plane.

(UPDATED July 21, 2026 20:25 UTC)

President Trump is under increasing pressure to abandon a controversial jet deal known as "Qatar Force One," which has already cost the U.S. government at least $400 million in retrofitting, with estimates suggesting the total could reach nearly $1 billion. Trump announced that the plane will undergo upgrades to be "maxed out" in about a month, despite it being grounded after just a week of official service due to security concerns. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has subpoenaed phone records from journalists at The New York Times as part of an investigation into the reporting surrounding the plane's issues.