Trump administration considers Qatar jet gift for temporary Air Force One use

The Trump administration is reportedly considering the temporary use of a Boeing 747-8 aircraft offered by Qatar’s royal family to serve as Air Force One, according to a source familiar with the discussions. The proposal, which has raised constitutional and ethical questions, is under review by both American and Qatari officials.

The aircraft, a 12-year-old luxury model valued at around $400 million, would represent one of the most extravagant transfers ever to a sitting US president if approved. Owned by Qatar and dubbed a “flying palace,” the plane has been extensively upgraded to include high-end interiors and security features befitting a head of state.

The news surfaces just days before president Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Qatar as part of his first major overseas trip during his second term. The Qatari Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defence are said to be in ongoing negotiations over the aircraft’s temporary use.

“The matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made,” said Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s media attaché to the United States.

The White House, while confirming the discussions, insisted that any arrangement would comply with US law. “Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws,”Karoline Leavitt White House press secretary, stated on Sunday. “President Trump’s administration is committed to full transparency.”

Trump himself acknowledged the proposal on his Truth Social platform, describing it as a “GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE” and criticising political opponents for objecting to what he framed as a cost-saving measure.

“So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT… of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40-year-old Air Force One, temporarily… so bothers the Crooked Democrats,” Trump wrote.

The arrangement reportedly arose in response to delays in the delivery of two new Air Force One aircraft—also Boeing 747-8s—commissioned during Trump’s first term. Those planes are now not expected until at least 2027. With the current Air Force One nearing the end of its service life, officials are said to be exploring interim alternatives.

According to ABC News, Trump personally toured the Qatari jet earlier this year in West Palm Beach, Florida. While the aircraft will not be transferred during the upcoming trip to Doha, sources indicate that legal reviews have already been conducted by both the White House and the Department of Justice. These reportedly affirm the constitutionality of the proposed arrangement.

Nevertheless, the plan is drawing fire from ethics watchdogs. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) questioned the legality of the move, citing the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause—which prohibits federal officeholders from accepting gifts from foreign states without the consent of Congress—and pointing to Trump’s prior business interests in the Gulf region.

In response to growing scrutiny, Qatari officials pushed back on the characterisation of the aircraft as a gift. “The transfer of an aircraft for temporary use is under discussion between the two countries,” said a statement from the government in Doha, which stressed that the plane would not be a permanent donation.

Qatar has a history of offering high-value aircraft to foreign leaders, having presented a luxury jet to Turkey in 2018. But in this case, US officials appear to be proceeding cautiously, aware of the complex legal terrain and potential political fallout.

Plans reportedly call for the aircraft, if accepted, to eventually be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library once it is no longer in active use.

As negotiations continue behind closed doors, the White House maintains that all actions are being taken within legal bounds—though the final decision, as with much in Trump’s presidency, remains politically fraught.