Trump, Qatar, and the Boeing 747-8 'flying palace': What we know about potential $400 mn gift

The Trump administration is poised to accept a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet, valued at approximately $400 million, from Qatar’s royal family for use as a temporary Air Force One, ABC News reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

The opulent aircraft, described as a “flying palace,” would serve President Donald Trump until shortly before his term ends, when ownership would transfer to the Trump presidential library foundation.

The proposed gift, which has sparked accusations of bribery and corruption, was expected to be announced during Trump’s visit to Qatar next week, his first foreign trip of his second term.

However, a senior White House official said the gift will not be presented during the visit. Qatar’s government confirmed discussions with the US Department of Defense about the “possible transfer” of the plane but said no final decision has been made, according to Ali Al-Ansari, a Qatari spokesperson.

Trump appeared to confirm the arrangement in a Truth Social post, defending the gift as a cost-saving measure.

“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 move has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and ethics advocates, who argue it violates the Constitution’s emoluments clause, which prohibits federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign governments.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X, “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.”

White House press secretary Karoline 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."

Legal analyses from the White House counsel’s office, the Department of Justice, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Trump’s top White House lawyer David Warrington concluded the gift is permissible and does not violate anti-bribery laws or the emoluments clause, according to ABC News.

They also deemed it legal for the plane’s ownership to transfer to Trump’s library foundation before his term ends. Trump toured the Qatari-owned jet in February at West Palm Beach International Airport near his Mar-a-Lago resort, reportedly to assess its configuration.

The visit comes amid his frustration with delays in Boeing’s delivery of two new 747-8s intended to replace the ageing Air Force One fleet. A US Air Force official told Congress last week that Boeing now projects completion in 2027, despite Trump’s earlier deal to have them delivered in 2024.