From luxury to liability: Why Qatar's jet gift to Trump is a nightmare for intelligence officials

US president Donald Trump’s acceptance of a luxury Boeing 747 from Qatar has triggered alarm within the intelligence and diplomatic circles, with experts warning of major security and ethical risks.The lavish 89-seater aircraft, once used by senior Qatari royal Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, features opulent interiors designed by Parisian firm cabinet Alberto Pinto, including Tai Ping rugs, rare wood fixtures, and original artwork. But behind its elegance lies a growing concern among intelligence veterans and lawmakers: potential foreign surveillance and compromised communications systems.“If we had built the plane, knowing it was going to a foreign government, we would probably have bugged it,” former CIA station chief Thad Troy told Bloomberg, recalling Cold War-era espionage tactics used by adversaries.Troy said any aircraft provided by a foreign power could easily be embedded with covert tracking or listening devices, an intelligence threat that's difficult to neutralise. The concern is not hypothetical. He cited how the American embassy in Moscow was once dismantled brick by brick to remove hidden surveillance tools.US senator Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, echoed those fears, calling Trump’s acceptance of the jet “incredibly reckless.”“A foreign-provided aircraft presents a host of potential security risks, from surveillance equipment to compromised communications systems,” Warner said in a statement to Bloomberg. “Thoroughly inspecting a plane like that for espionage tools or safety concerns would be nearly impossible,” he added.The plane, built in 2012, would need to undergo extensive retrofitting to meet Air Force One standards, including explosion-resistant surfaces, secure communications, and aerial refueling capabilities. Intelligence officials say even a thorough sweep for spyware could take months, a key reason why it takes years to construct presidential aircraft from the ground up.Trump, who had ordered two new Air Force One jets during his term but criticised Boeing over delivery delays, defended the Qatari offer.“Some people say, oh, you shouldn’t accept gifts for the country,” Trump said. “My attitude is, why wouldn’t I accept a gift? We’re giving to everybody else,” he said.Trump added that Gulf monarchies often have better aircraft than the US government and said he believed America should own “the most impressive plane.”