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US President Donald Trump has defended plans to accept a luxury aircraft for use as Air Force One, following media reports that the Qatari royal family is offering a Boeing 747-8 jet as a “gift,” raising serious concerns over potential legal and ethical violations.
Describing the aircraft as a “flying palace,” ABC News reported that the jumbo jet could become the most valuable present ever received by the US government.
The issue has heightened existing concerns about Trump’s potential conflicts of interest relating to his private businesses and use of public office.
In a social media post on Sunday, Trump did not mention Qatar but claimed the aircraft would be handed over temporarily to the US Department of Defence and would replace an ageing Air Force One currently in service.
He described the move as part of a “transparent transaction” and accused the Democrats of wasting taxpayer money by seeking to purchase a new presidential plane outright.
Qatar, for its part, moved quickly to downplay the controversy. “Reports describing the aircraft as a gift are inaccurate,” said Ali Al-Ansari, media attaché for Qatar in Washington.
He clarified that discussions about the possible transfer of the plane for temporary Air Force One use were still ongoing between Qatar’s Ministry of Defence and the US Pentagon.
The US Constitution’s emoluments clause forbids officials from receiving gifts from foreign states. However, Trump may be seeking to circumvent this by ensuring the aircraft is initially handed to the US Air Force and then passed on to his presidential library after he leaves office, which could technically keep it within legal bounds.
The announcement is expected during Trump’s upcoming visit to the Middle East, where he is due to stop in three countries, including Qatar, according to ABC and The New York Times.
Nevertheless, critics from both major parties have raised an alarm. Far-right figure and Trump ally Laura Loomer condemned the plan, calling Qatar “jihadists in suits” and accusing them of funding groups that target US soldiers. “Accepting a $400 million ‘gift’ is a stain on the administration,” she posted on X.
While White House and Justice Department sources reportedly consider the deal legal, arguing that no quid pro quo is involved, opposition voices remain unconvinced.
Senator Chris Murphy branded the proposal “wildly illegal,” and Representative Kelly Morrison called it “corruption in plain sight.”
The controversy also reignites Trump’s long-standing dissatisfaction with the current Air Force One fleet.
In 2018, Boeing agreed to deliver two upgraded 747 -8 aircraft by 2024 for $3.9 billion, but the project has been delayed until 2027-2028 due to pandemic-related issues and a subcontractor’s bankruptcy.
Although the Qatari jet is said to be more than a decade old, its new equivalent would cost around $400 million. Significant upgrades to communications and security would be required before it could be used as Air Force One.
