The nearly $1 billion price tag has reportedly been drawn from funds earmarked for the nuclear modernization program, the New York Times reports

The luxury jet gifted to US President Donald Trump by Qatar is expected to cost $934 million or more to renovate, the New York Times reported on Sunday, citing Air Force sources. The outlet claimed the funds were quietly diverted from money earmarked for modernizing the US ground-launched nuclear missile system.

The Qatari royal family gifted Trump a $400 million Boeing 747-8, dubbed the "flying palace," earlier this year. The jet has been transferred to the Pentagon to serve as Air Force One while new Boeing aircraft remain delayed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his Qatari counterpart signed an agreement for Qatar's "unconditional donation" earlier this month. Renovations are expected to begin in the coming weeks.

While the official cost is classified, sources told the NYT the Pentagon hid the renovation funds within the Sentinel program - an overhaul of the aging Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system with new launch facilities and communications. Air Force sources reportedly claimed the Pentagon quietly slipped a $934 million transfer for the Qatari jet's renovation into a document linked to the program recently sent to Congress.

The handing over of the jet has sparked controversy and has been opposed by critics on ethics grounds. "The more we learn about this deal, the more disturbing it becomes," Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen told the NYT. She warned of "significant security implications" in accepting a foreign aircraft as Air Force One and criticized diverting nuclear modernization funds for "a vanity project for President Trump."

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told Congress in June he expected the renovation to cost under $400 million. But Air Force engineers told the NYT the estimate was unrealistic, citing extensive upgrades including communications, anti-missile systems, engine improvements, removal of suspected surveillance devices, and Trump's added "luxuries."

Trump defended the gift, telling reporters in May he "would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer," adding, "I could be a stupid person and say, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane'."

(RT.com)