Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
In an unprecedented diplomatic gesture, the Qatar royal family is gifting the United States a $400 million luxury Boeing 747-8 aircraft for use by President Donald Trump as a temporary Air Force One — and ultimately, a centerpiece of his presidential library foundation, ABC News has learned.
The lavishly outfitted aircraft, nicknamed a “flying palace” for its ornate interiors, is expected to be formally accepted by the U.S. during Trump’s upcoming state visit to Qatar, sources familiar with the arrangement said.
Under the proposed deal, the U.S. Air Force will assume immediate custody of the jet, retrofitting it for presidential transport through contractor L3Harris. The aircraft will remain in service as Air Force One until at least 2028, after which it will be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation, with the U.S. government covering all associated costs.
The arrangement, described by experts as unparalleled in value and complexity, is already generating intense scrutiny over its legality and compliance with the Constitution’s emoluments clause, which bars U.S. officials from accepting gifts from foreign states.
Sources say White House counsel David Warrington and Attorney General Pam Bondi provided legal cover for the move, determining that the gift is legal because it is first accepted by the U.S. government and is not conditional on any official act by Trump. The Department of Defense would be the legal recipient, and the jet’s eventual transfer to the presidential library foundation was ruled to be within statutory bounds.
“It’s a novel situation, but ultimately deemed permissible under federal law,” a senior administration official told ABC News. “The plane becomes part of the government’s assets first, and its later transfer is structured legally.”
The aircraft, currently 13 years old, was recently parked at West Palm Beach International Airport, where Trump reportedly toured it earlier this year. Its interiors — custom-fitted for a royal head of state — include private suites, marble-clad bathrooms, and gold accents throughout.
Legal scholars, however, express concerns about precedent and perception.
“Whether or not it technically violates the emoluments clause, the optics are staggering,” said Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe. “This is a foreign royal family giving a former president an extraordinarily valuable personal legacy item.”
The current Air Force One fleet consists of two aging Boeing 747-200 jets, in service since 1990. Replacement planes, under contract with Boeing since 2018, have faced repeated delays and are not expected to be ready until 2027 or later.
Frustrated with the timeline, Trump reportedly tasked Elon Musk with accelerating production efforts. Sources say Trump wanted a new presidential aircraft this year — a timeline made possible by Qatar’s donation.
