An Oklahoma senator claimed during a CNN interview that discussions around the plane dated back to the Biden administration.

The Trump administration first approached Qatar to inquire about acquiring a Boeing 747 that could be used as Air Force One by President Donald Trump, four sources familiar with the discussions told CNN.

Trump has said the Qatari government offered him the jet as a “gift,” meaning the U.S. government would not have to pay to obtain it. But the widebody airliner would still need an extensive and potentially costly overhaul before the president could use it.

The luxury jet needs a security overhaul. That usually takes a few years, meaning it might not be ready until Trump is out of office. Shortcuts could create national security risks.

The White House announced that President Donald Trump secured economic exchanges with Qatar worth $1.2 trillion, a figure which includes a historic order for Boeing airliners.

President Donald Trump has said that Qatar is "donating" its Boeing 747 to the U.S. and not to him personally, as the fallout from the potential transaction continues. On Sunday, reports emerged that Trump was to accept the Boeing 747-8, which will be retrofitted with state-of-the-art security and communications to serve as Air Force One.

The order will support 154,000 U.S. jobs annually, the White House said.

The 787 Dreamliner built in South Carolina is among 210 jets Qatar Airways will buy as part of a $96 million deal; critics blast 'gift' to Trump

Boeing has secured a deal with Qatar for up to 210 jets in what the White House is calling the aircraft makers’s “largest-ever” widebody order worth $96 billion dollars.

Boeing secured a record-breaking order from Qatar Airways and support from Donald Trump in valuable signs of confidence after tensions and turmoil.