- Monday, May 12, 2025
A luxurious Boeing 747-8 from Qatar’s royal family is set to serve as Air Force One temporarily before becoming part of the Trump Presidential Library. The unprecedented gift has sparked bipartisan controversy over legality and foreign influence.
By: Vibhuti Pathak
In what is poised to be one of the most controversial and high-value diplomatic gifts in US history, the Trump administration is preparing to accept a lavish Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar. Valued at around $400 million, the aircraft—dubbed a “flying palace”—will be used temporarily as Air Force One before being transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation, according to sources familiar with the proposed arrangement.
The announcement of this unprecedented gift was initially expected during President Donald Trump’s upcoming trip to Qatar—his first foreign visit in his second term. However, a senior White House official clarified that the presentation will not occur during the visit. Instead, the transfer is being framed as a “very public and transparent transaction,” according to a social media post by Trump on Sunday (11).
The aircraft, which Trump toured in February at West Palm Beach International Airport, is a 13-year-old Boeing model previously owned by Qatar’s royal family. Aviation experts say it is outfitted with extreme luxury features and will require significant modifications by the US Air Force to meet national security and communication standards. The defense contractor L3Harris has already been commissioned to carry out these upgrades.
According to internal legal assessments shared with ABC News, White House lawyers and the Department of Justice concluded that the arrangement does not violate anti-bribery laws or the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits US officials from accepting gifts from foreign states.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington determined that the plane’s temporary use by the US Air Force and subsequent donation to the Trump Presidential Library foundation before January 1, 2029, makes the gift legally acceptable. All transfer and upgrade costs will be borne by the Air Force.
Still, the plan has drawn fire from both Democratic lawmakers and legal watchdogs. Senator Chuck Schumer criticized the optics of foreign influence, sarcastically noting that “Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar.” Representative Adam Schiff called it a violation of the Constitution’s No Title of Nobility clause, saying “the corruption is brazen.”
Qatar’s media attaché, Ali Al-Ansari, confirmed that the aircraft’s temporary transfer is under consideration by both Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense. The White House insisted the gift complies with all applicable legal standards, reiterating the administration’s commitment to transparency.
This move comes amid continued delays in Boeing’s fulfillment of a 2018 contract to deliver updated Air Force One aircraft. The current Air Force One fleet includes two aging Boeing 747-200 jets that have been operational since 1990. Although Boeing’s most recent estimate suggests a 2027 delivery date, Trump has expressed his dissatisfaction and is reportedly working with Elon Musk to expedite the process.
Trump’s critics argue that the Qatar gift not only undermines US ethical standards but sets a dangerous precedent for presidential privileges. However, supporters within the administration maintain that the transaction is a practical solution to pressing logistical needs and is entirely above board.
As the aircraft heads toward its transformation into a US presidential jet and eventual library artifact, scrutiny over its origins and implications for presidential decorum is likely to intensify.
