The Trump administration is preparing to accept a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet — dubbed a “flying palace” — as a gift from the royal family of Qatar. The aircraft, valued at nearly $400 million, will reportedly be used as an interim Air Force One during President Trump’s term and then transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation before he leaves office.
Sources familiar with the arrangement told ABC News that the gift will be formally announced during Trump’s upcoming visit to Qatar — his first overseas trip of his second term. The highly customized plane, which Trump personally toured in February at West Palm Beach International Airport, features ultra-luxurious interiors and will be retrofitted by the U.S. Air Force to meet presidential transport requirements.
While administration lawyers have concluded the arrangement is legally permissible, the plan raises serious questions about ethics, legality, and transparency — including whether this constitutes a form of influence peddling or circumvents the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which bars U.S. officials from accepting gifts from foreign states without congressional approval.
According to sources, legal analysis provided by White House Counsel David Warrington and Attorney General Pam Bondi argues that because the jet is first being donated to the U.S. Air Force, and later to the Trump library foundation, it does not violate anti-bribery statutes or the Emoluments Clause. The rationale hinges on the claim that the gift is not offered in exchange for any official act and ultimately benefits a nonprofit entity, not Trump personally.
Still, critics note that the optics of the deal are troubling. The jet — which the U.S. military will modify at taxpayer expense — will serve the president personally before transitioning to his post-presidency institution. The arrangement effectively grants Trump exclusive use of one of the world’s most expensive aircraft, provided by a foreign monarchy, and ultimately transfers it to a foundation bearing his name.
“It’s hard to see how this doesn’t raise the specter of foreign influence,” said one legal expert not affiliated with the case. “When a foreign power gives the sitting president a $400 million aircraft that he gets to keep in some form after leaving office, the distinction between public benefit and personal enrichment becomes dangerously blurred.”
Neither the White House nor the Department of Justice responded to requests for comment. The Qatari embassy also declined to provide a statement.
The transfer comes as the U.S. faces ongoing delays in replacing its aging fleet of Air Force One jets. Boeing’s newest models are not expected to be ready before 2029. Trump, reportedly frustrated by the timeline, has tasked Elon Musk with assisting the Air Force in speeding up delivery, though progress has been limited.
Under the current plan, the gifted Qatari aircraft will be used by Trump and the Air Force until the new planes arrive. It will then be handed over — along with any remaining costs — to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation no later than January 1, 2029.
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23 Responses
What a foolish move. Read about “The horse of Troy”. Trust Qatar not to incorporate concealed explosives in their “gift”? No way. Let’s just hope it is not a dangerous trap. It would be too late to find out afterwards if it was.
Even if technically legal, Trump is taking a bribe. It still pales in comparison to the other bribes that Qatar gives to influence American policy like funding prestigious U.S. universities and think tanks.
How many embedded microphones, recorders, cameras, and other spy & monitoring equipment will they pre-install? Park it in Florida for a long vacation!
How long will it take the MAGA minions to admit their mistake? Will they still respond that this some four dimensional chess move? Will they resort to the just wait and trust Trump as he is a genius? Or will they resort to their last defense and foolishly claim that Biden and Harris are worse?
This is obviously not okay. Pam Bondi is herself registered as a Qatar foreign agent… Qatar has been playing both sides in open plain-site for a very long time!
We have no idea how Hashem is being מרחם on כלל ישראל. This to us seems like ‘bad news’, but we have no idea how much התעוררות לתשובה this can bring in Israeli society, May the Geulah come quickly ברחמים גדולים
And to think how much trouble Netanyahu got for a few bottles of champagne and a box of cigars!!!!
Don’t worry Mike Huckabee told us that he still loves Israel. Apparently he now loves the Qataris as well.
‘Vote for Trump!’ they said. ‘He’s pro-Israel’, they said…
I hope all his Jewish supporters realise how pathetic they seem now…
Let them investigate Biden,Clinton ,O , Sanders & Letita James ,& on & on !!!!
Presidents thru out history accepted gifts and trumps no exception. It is legal and constitutional as long as he doesn’t own it personally which he doesn’t The only president that attempted to leave with gifts was Yep Hillary’s and her husband bill clinton as well as pictures furniture and dinner ware. They were caught.
But I do agee this plane needs to
Be searched for Biden spy ware
It is a great investment. I am sure they made more than 400 million via black market oil and money transfers. Looks more like a kickback.
For decades the Saudis have been getting away with bribing Presidents and other high ranking administration officials by employing them after they leave office in lucrative positions at the Carlyle Group and similar outfits. It was known if they took care of the Saudis while they were in office, the Saudis would take care of them afterwards.
Qatar hosts most violent terrorist.
They are aligned with Iran, fund universities by Billions for anti American, Anti Jewish propaganda.
Their government funded free TV in English and Arabic is nothing short of Hamas Style school and media propaganda.
WHATS HAPPENING TO TRUMP? This is not the Trump we voted for.
Russia gave US a plank of wood with carved image of US Seal.
After US saw that Russians knew everything about what US does they found a RF reception device which was not well known then which was recording all the conversations in the embassy.
Now go figure.
I am beginning to lose faith in the over worked, tired President who accepts gifts like this from the finders of the enemy state.
If people wanted a president who was subtle about taking bribes, they should have voted for the Democrats. In any event, unless the plane is a gift to “Trump” rather than agift to the “United States”, it is illegal; countries are allowed to pay bribes (formerly called “tribute”) to each other.
Now we understand the reason for Trump’s sudden turn against Israel. Can’t wait to see what Putin and Xi come up with…
He’s winning a valuable air plane but will loose the midterm elections.
What a shame of a figure to turn his back on a close ally because of an air craft.
Qatar just recently held back the Wittkof hostage deal but as Netanyau tweeted last week but this doesn’t keep Trump back from visiting them and receiving bribes from them.
Trump has one single matter in mind for which he will do everything : Donald Trump
The Yeshiva world is consistently “negative”. I perused EVERY article for spin and bias–and sadly found it. This supposed “bribe” has NOT been accepted. It may well be a prompt/push for Boeing to “step it up” on its promise to create a new Air Force One.
I’m seeing Leftists here exult in this. But it isn’t a done deal by any measure.
I hope my comment is not rejected because I’m critical of their spin.
Sherrim – Trump posted on his Truth Social account about his excitement for his new plane. (If he doesn’t actually take it, it will only be due to the heat he is getting from the press). Will you now take back your misguided criticism or will the next excuse be that YWN is leftist because really it is a genius move to take a “free” plane or that Biden is worse.
Is this the “very, very big announcement” that the degenerate adulterous felon said he was going to make?