The administration of President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing the acceptance of a Boeing 747-8 aircraft from Qatar’s royal family to serve temporarily as Air Force One, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Reuters reported that the plane, a 12-year-old luxury aircraft owned by Qatar and estimated to be worth approximately $400m, would be among the most valuable gifts ever received by the US government.
Plans call for the aircraft to be transferred to Trump’s presidential library following his departure from office.
Trump appeared to acknowledge the proposal in a post on Truth Social, defending the decision as a cost-saving measure and criticizing Democrats for opposing the arrangement.
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.
The potential gift has sparked backlash from Democratic lawmakers and ethics organizations, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer calling it an example of “foreign influence with extra legroom.”
Critics argue that the acceptance of such a gift from a foreign government may violate the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits US officials from accepting gifts from foreign states without congressional approval.
The White House responded by emphasizing that any foreign gift would be processed in accordance with legal requirements. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the administration was “committed to full transparency.”
Qatari government spokesperson Ali Al-Ansari confirmed that discussions were ongoing between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense but stressed that no final decision had been reached.
The idea emerged amid delays in the delivery of two new Boeing 747-8 aircraft that were commissioned during Trump’s first term to serve as updated Air Force One planes. Delivery has been postponed until at least 2027, prompting the administration to explore interim solutions.
Trump toured the Qatari aircraft earlier this year in West Palm Beach, Florida. While the transfer of the plane would not occur during his upcoming visit to Qatar, sources told ABC News that legal analyses have been prepared by the White House and Department of Justice affirming the constitutionality of the proposed arrangement.
Ethics watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington questioned the legality of the move, noting the president’s past business ties in the region.
