According to a Reuters report, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is seriously considering accepting a luxurious Boeing 747-8 aircraft as a gift from the Qatari royal family. This aircraft could temporarily serve as the official presidential Air Force One until the delivery of newly ordered planes, currently scheduled for 2027.
As Reuters previously reported, the value of this gift is estimated at an impressive $400 million for a brand-new aircraft. Under the proposed plan, after Trump leaves office, the aircraft would be transferred to his presidential library.
Trump recently commented on the situation on his Truth Social platform: “The Defense Department is receiving a FREE GIFT to replace the outdated Air Force One—a perfectly transparent deal that Democrats continue to attack.”
Critics, including leading Democratic politicians, have raised sharp objections to this potential arrangement. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer sarcastically remarked: “Nothing says ‘America First’ like an Air Force One gifted to you by Qatar.”
According to the latest information from Reuters, Qatari official Ali Al-Ansari confirmed that negotiations between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Pentagon are still ongoing, and no final decision has been made. ABC News was the first to report on this potential gift. Trump has previously expressed frustration over delays in the delivery of new Air Force One aircraft, with the delivery date pushed back from 2024 to 2027. Earlier this year, Trump personally inspected the Qatari Boeing 747-8 while it was parked near his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Ethics experts warn that such a gift could violate constitutional provisions prohibiting U.S. officials from accepting valuable gifts from foreign governments without explicit congressional approval. Despite the controversy, White House legal advisors have reportedly concluded that accepting the aircraft would comply with existing laws.
