The Trump administration will accept a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from Qatar as a gift to be used by President Donald Trump as the new Air Force One for presidential travel before Trump leaves office.
Ownership of the plane will be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation once the president ends his second term.
According to an official, the arrangement will be done according to U.S. and international laws, in observance of ethics rules. The president will discuss the arrangement during his visit to Qatar this week.
ABC News first reported the gift.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said gifts from foreign governments are accepted following the law.
“Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws,” Leavitt said. “President Trump’s Administration is committed to full transparency.”
A White House official told FWRD AXIS News that the gift will not be presented nor accepted this week while Trump is in Qatar.
Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s media, confirmed the talks are in place.
“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, but the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made,” they said in a statement.
Democrats have criticized the Trump administration after the reports about their plans to accept a plane, were made public.
“Trump must seek Congress’ consent to take this $300 million gift from Qatar. The Constitution is perfectly clear: no present “of any kind whatever” from a foreign state without Congressional permission. A gift you use for four years and then deposit in your library is still a gift (and a grift),” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) wrote in a post on X.
