I strongly suspect that the emir had an El-Al-style module, or similar device, on his plane to shoot off chaff to deflect an incoming missile. Good enough.
The imperial presidency is unacceptable. Trump’s dictatorial rule is the full-on expression of what was only in early stages in past presidencies.
This is hilarious! 
It also is basically untrue.
Consider:
Deemed by whom? The Secret Service? An Air Force transport general? NBC News?
None of that matters. The only deemer that matters is Donald Trump.
If Trump uses his power as commander in chief to order the plane placed in an empty apron at Andrews Air Force Base, and for Air Force crews to fly it for him, then it is deemed suitable for his travel by the only person who matters. And if he is smart, DJT will order a $300,000 paint job and then do just that.
Maybe he will agree to the billion dollar project, thinking he can brazenly deny we spent big money to overhaul a middle-aged plane. Then Democrats can and should fairly slam him for his folly. But to criticize him before he actually makes the political mistake risks putting egg all over Democratic faces.
For this reason, I would encourage Trump to do it. What’s the worst thing that can happen? Because that is what I want for him and I will achieve extra satisfaction knowing he chose it despite numerous actual experts telling him he was being an idiot.
I understand the sentiment, but that would also take down such innocents as the flight crew, Secret Service, reporters, and so forth.
ETA: Given that the Secret Service refused to obey his furious orders to let him go to the Capitol on January 6th, I suspect there’d be strong pushback from them against allowing him to fly in an unprotected plane.
Not a real issue.
I just found evidence for the Qatari royal 747’s having an anti-missile defense system:
The ultimate luxury - a private 747-8, fully equipped with anti-missile defense systems
I will say one thing to support the idea of the gift inevitably costing a lot: Even it Trump were to use one of these, with absolutely no modification, maintenance cost will be higher than for a 747 already in the U.S. government inventory. The Air Force would have to train mechanics to work on this particular sub-model. There probably is special equipment needed to maintain it. There could also be an issue with obtaining parts, especially if some of the fancy VIP subsystems were made in a country we have sanctions against, or are heavily tariffing.
I suppose some in the Air Force will proudly think their defense system is better than some off-the-rack solution the Qataris purchased from France or China or Israel. But are we correct there?
I had to look it up, and Wikipedia says that 747s were manufactured until 2023. I did not know they were produced so recently. Two unsold aircraft were selected to become VC-25Bs.
Though the final few 747s to be built and delivered were freighter versions, rather than passenger versions.
Seems it is less a gift and more about unloading a financial burden on someone else all while currying favor:
The Boeing 747-8 being offered to U.S. President Donald Trump by Qatar once served the Qatari royal family and has been sitting unsold for years.
'tis about selling the sizzle, more than the steak.
Am sure that from 45/47’s real estate background he would recognise and appreciate the gesture.
What if the US government accepts the 747 to please Trump’s scatterbrained mind, and then, while he is distracted, just converts it for some plain USAF or governmental usage that requires little or no modification? Surely it could help with Logistics Command or something quasi-civilian. Then it would indeed be a $400 million gift.
So it’s a White Elephant? Yeah, that makes sense - the Qatar officials and royal family, who are actually competent, saw a way to unload a hole in the sky they were throwing money into in a manner that might gain them favor with the most powerful toddler on Earth. Well played, Qatar!
I don’t see where it needs modification to fly on day one. It’s that we have nothing in the U.S.Air Force inventory that is that model. It has anti-missile defense systems that are almost surely different from what the Air Force is used to maintaining. Maintenance staff will need to be trained. Even without renovation, there will be high recurring cost.
I wonder if any of the VIP subsystems require Iranian or Russian parts.
The real gift was the one they gave to Erdoğan in 2018. That one was makes Trump’s plane look like government issue. See pictures here:
No throne room. Donald — that’s an insult.
More like a White Mouse. The royal family is worth 335 billion. -
It’s the Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-24(V) Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system. It’s good for MANPADS, but won’t stop a radar-guided SAM or AAM. The VC-25s likely have a more robust countermeasures suite.
It takes away all the fun when the other guy actually knows something about the subject 
Even if it does have some defense countermeasures system, it’s questionable as to whether its ECM and secure communications systems are even as good as the current VC-25As, much less what’s being installed in the the VC-25Bs.
He’s such a toddler that Saudi Arabia rolled out a mobile McDonalds restaurant when he visited. Honestly it’s embarrassing having a president with such lowbrow tastes.
I, for one, am glad he eats such terrible food. But it might just be a ploy to appeal to his base, too. He pretends to like McD’s bc of them. Behind closed doors, I am sure he is a secret vegan!!