Trump Poised to Accept Gifted Boeing 747-8 from Qatar
President Donald Trump is reportedly prepared to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a gift from Qatar’s ruling family during his upcoming trip to the Middle East, a move that is already stirring legal and ethical controversy, The Associated Press reports.
According to U.S. officials and reporting by ABC News, the aircraft, which may be converted into a temporary presidential jet, is being offered free of charge by the Qatari government. If accepted, Trump would use the aircraft as Air Force One until the end of his presidency in January 2029. After that, ownership would be transferred to the foundation overseeing his presidential library, which has yet to be built.
Trump defended the potential arrangement on Sunday via his social media platform, calling it a fiscally responsible 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. “Anybody can do that!”
The Qatari government confirmed that the transfer is under discussion but emphasized that no final decision has been made. “The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense,” said Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s media attaché.
“But the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments.”
Administration officials, aware of the potential blowback, have reportedly prepared a legal justification for accepting the gift. Still, constitutional scholars point to the U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits federal officeholders from accepting gifts or benefits from foreign states without congressional approval.
“This is a blatant example of President Trump exploiting his office for personal benefit,” said Kathleen Clark, a government ethics expert at Washington University School of Law. “It raises serious concerns under the Emoluments Clause.”
Critics from both parties are voicing skepticism. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer mocked the development, saying:
“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.”
Some conservatives also raised alarms about national security. While the Air Force plans to retrofit the aircraft with secure communications and basic protective measures, experts say it will lack the full range of survivability features of the current Air Force One fleet — including radiation shielding, anti-missile defense, and advanced communications systems.
The current Air Force One fleet consists of two heavily modified Boeing 747s, both more than 30 years old. Boeing has a long-delayed contract to build two updated presidential aircraft, but production setbacks and financial losses have pushed the delivery timeline back.
Trump’s visit to Qatar — part of a broader trip that includes Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — is expected to mark the first extended international travel of his second term. Sources suggest the official announcement of the aircraft gift could come during that stop.
