2 minute read
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration intends to accept a Boeing 747-8 plane as a gift from the Qatari royal family that would be outfitted to serve as Air Force One, Reuters reported citing a source briefed on the matter.
The luxury plane, which would be one of the most valuable gifts ever received by the U.S. government, would eventually be donated to Trump's presidential library after he leaves office, the source told Reuters.
A new commercial 747-8 costs approximately $400 million, according to Reuters.
President Trump appeared to confirm the offer in a social media post.
"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 on Truth Social.
Democrats and good government advocates said it was unethical and likely unconstitutional for Qatar to make such a gift, Reuters reported.
"Nothing says 'America First' like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X. "It's not just bribery, it's premium foreign influence with extra legroom."
But the Trump administration said it was committed to transparency. 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."
A Qatari spokesperson, Ali Al-Ansari, told the New York Times that the possible transfer of the aircraft was still under consideration and "no decision has been made," the newspaper reported.
Trump is set to visit Qatar during a trip to the Middle East this week.
