In what may become the most valuable gift ever offered to the United States by a foreign government, the Trump administration is preparing to accept a Boeing 747 8 aircraft from the royal family of Qatar. The super-luxury jet—estimated to be worth around $400 million—is expected to serve temporarily as Air Force One and later be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation, according to sources familiar with the arrangement.
Aviation experts describe the aircraft as a “flying palace. ” It is outfitted with extravagant interiors, including private bedrooms, high-end bathrooms, and a sweeping staircase. Originally part of the Qatari royal fleet, the jet was most recently stationed at West Palm Beach International Airport, where former President Donald Trump toured it in February.
The highly unusual transaction, reported by the media, is expected to be formalized soon, although White House officials said the announcement will not take place during Trump’s upcoming visit to Qatar. The jet will first be transferred to the U.S. Air Force, where defence contractor L3Harris is already modifying it to meet military and security standards required for transporting the US president.
Trump, now in his second term, acknowledged the arrangement in a Sunday night post on Truth Social, calling it a “very public and transparent transaction” coordinated through the Department of Defence. However, the deal has sparked a wave of legal scrutiny and political backlash.
At the centre of the controversy is the US Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval. While critics, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have called the deal a form of “premium foreign influence,” the Trump administration contends the transaction is fully legal.
“Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar,” Schumer posted online. “It’s not just bribery; it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom.”
A Possible Legal Challenge
To preempt legal challenges, the White House Counsel’s Office and the Department of Justice reportedly collaborated on a legal opinion. According to media reports, White House lawyer David Warrington and Attorney General Pam Bondi concluded that the aircraft can be legally accepted by the Department of Defense and later transferred to the Trump Library Foundation without violating federal bribery laws or the Emoluments Clause. Qatar gifts Trump
A memorandum drafted by Bondi and shared with the White House last week affirms that the donation is “legally permissible,” provided that ownership of the aircraft is handed over to the Trump Library Foundation by January 1, 2029, before Trump’s exit from office.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the arrangement complies with all legal requirements. “Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws,” she said. “President Trump’s administration is committed to full transparency.”
Nonetheless, questions persist regarding the optics and implications of the deal, particularly given the significant delays in the production of two new Air Force One jets ordered in 2018. Those aircraft, also Boeing 747-8s, are now not expected to be completed until 2029. Qatar gifts Trump
While no formal handover has yet occurred, the transaction remains under legal review, and both Qatari and U.S. defense officials have described the matter as still “under consideration.” For now, the opulent jet stands as both a symbol of diplomatic complexity and a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over presidential ethics and foreign influence.