Pete Hegseth’s Secret Deal to Get Trump His Free Qatari Jet Is Leaked

A Qatar-owned Boeing 747-8 sits on a Florida tarmac after President Trump toured the jet on Feb. 15, 2025. According to newly reported documents, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a July 7, 2025, memo of understanding treating this $400 million plane as an “unconditional” gift to the U.S. with no strings attached. The leaked MOU explicitly calls the aircraft a “bona fide gift” to the Pentagon, with the U.S. paying nothing for it. It even disclaims any “bribery, undue influence, or corrupt practice,” stating the donation is “made in good faith” and is not tied to any official act. The agreement also allows Trump to use the jet during his presidency and then have it donated to his presidential library afterward, according to ABC News.

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Timeline of Key Events

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In spring 2025 the Pentagon began planning upgrades for the Qatar jet to serve as Air Force One. CNN affiliate reports confirm Hegseth’s MOU states the plane is an “unconditional donation” and the U.S. will pay nothing for it. The Air Force has since been directed to retrofit the luxury jet for presidential use, while warning of potential security gaps that could cost at least half a billion dollars to fix. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have reacted with alarm. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed to hold up all Justice Department nominees until the administration explains the deal, calling the plan “not just naked corruption, it is also a grave national security threat.” He and others note that U.S. law bars executive officials from accepting foreign gifts without Congress’s blessing, and critics fear the arrangement may violate the Emoluments Clause.

Republicans have also weighed in. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said she’s “concerned” about constitutionality and potential spying devices on the jet. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) quipped that it “doesn’t look good or smell good,” while Senate GOP leader John Thune promised that any foreign jet deal “will be scrutinized.” A few GOP lawmakers, however, have defended the gesture: Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) asked “why would we care if another country wanted to give the United States a gift?” President Trump himself has insisted the jet is a boon to the Air Force, tweeting that it was given “to the USAF/Department of Defense, NOT TO ME!” and deriding critics as “World Class Losers” for opposing a free plane.

The leak and ensuing coverage have raised ethical and legal questions. Democrats on the Judiciary Committee note that the Constitution gives Congress sole authority over foreign gifts. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) wrote to then-Attorney General Pam Bondi asking for her memo explaining why the Qatar plane is “legally permissible,” pointing out that Bondi formerly lobbied for Qatar. Indeed, press reports say Bondi did sign off on the transaction in May, concluding it did not violate ethics rules. This disclosure has drawn scrutiny: watchdog groups have sued the Justice Department to force release of that memo, arguing the Qatar jet deal “deserves full public scrutiny – not a stiff-arm.” New York Rep. Ritchie Torres blasted the arrangement as a “flying grift” that appears to violate the Emoluments Clause. Meanwhile, Air Force officials have quietly confirmed that funds earmarked for a nuclear missile program have been tapped to begin refurbishing the aircraft at taxpayer expense.

Media coverage has been intense but mixed in tone. Established outlets like The Washington Post, CNN, ABC News, and Reuters have reported the facts of the signed MOU and Pentagon acquisition. Opinion columns and political reporters have flagged the case as a high-profile example of foreign influence and possible corruption. Some conservative media note that accepting the jet was publicly announced in May, making the arrangement technically not “secret,” though the detailed MOU only became known through leaks. Watchdogs stress that transparency is essential: as one observer put it, “the president’s deal to take a $400m luxury jet from a foreign government deserves full public scrutiny.” So far, the White House and Pentagon have largely declined to comment beyond saying they will ensure security standards, and the Biden administration has emphasized the U.S. relationship with Qatar.

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Conclusion

The Qatar jet saga has become a potent political flashpoint. Official documents now show that Pete Hegseth personally negotiated terms for the “free” airplane, and lawmakers from both parties are demanding answers. The leaked memo and related inquiries underscore concerns about foreign gifts, campaign-era conflicts of interest, and the potential misuse of U.S. funds. As one former official quipped, if taxpayers must spend up to a billion dollars on renovations only for the jet to end up in Trump’s library, “that doesn’t sound like a wise use of taxpayer dollars.” For now, Congressional committees and the press continue to press for transparency and adherence to ethics laws, even as the Trump team frames the deal as a simple “gift” to the nation.