United States President, Donald Trump is reportedly planning to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet as a gift from Qatar’s royal family, with the intention of using it as a temporary replacement for Air Force One.
According to Reuters, the jet valued at around $400 million would later be donated to Donald Trump’s presidential library once he leaves office.
Trump appeared to confirm the news in a post on Truth Social, claiming the plane would come at no cost to the government and criticizing Democrats for opposing the move.
“So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane,” he wrote.
Democrats and good government advocates, however, argued the gift raises serious ethical and legal questions.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called it “premium foreign influence with extra legroom,” suggesting it undermines U.S. interests.
“Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar. It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom,” Schumer wrote on X.
Watchdog groups also pointed out that accepting such a gift from a foreign government without congressional approval could violate the Constitution.
The White House defended the move, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that any foreign gifts are handled according to legal guidelines and in full transparency.
Leavitt said in a statement, “Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws. President Trump’s administration is committed to full transparency.”
Qatari representative Ali Al-Ansari told “The New York Times” that no final decision had been made regarding the transfer.
Trump had previously expressed his frustration with delays in delivering the next generation of Air Force One jets.
Although he reached an agreement with Boeing during his first term for the delivery of two new 747-8s by 2024, the timeline has since shifted, and the planes may not be ready until 2027.
In February, Trump visited the Qatari-owned jet while it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport near Mar-a-Lago, reportedly to inspect the aircraft’s design and features.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) raised further concerns about the optics of the deal, pointing to Trump’s business ties in Qatar and suggesting the timing—just before his upcoming meeting with Qatari leaders—was questionable.
“This sure looks like a foreign country that the president has personal business dealings in giving the president a $400 million gift right before he meets with their head of state,” the spokesman, Jordan Libowitz, said.
Trump is expected to travel to Qatar later this week, but officials say the plane won’t be handed over during the visit.
ABC News also reported that legal experts from the White House and Justice Department have reviewed the situation and found it would be legal for the Defense Department to accept the aircraft and eventually donate it to Trump’s library.
KanyiDaily recalls that Donald Trump recently hinted at the possibility of seeking a third term as US president, despite the constitutional two-term limit.
