U.S. President Donald Trump, wearing a MAGA (Make America Great Again) cap, raises his fist as he exits Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, on April 27, 2025. (Credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP)
A reported plan by the Trump administration to accept a luxury aircraft as a gift from Qatar’s ruling family is stirring controversy over ethics and potential constitutional violations.
According to a source cited by Reuters, the government of Qatar intends to donate a Boeing 747-8 aircraft — described by ABC News as a “palace in the sky” — for use as a temporary presidential aircraft, Air Force One. The plane, which retails for about $400 million, would be among the most expensive gifts ever received by the U.S. government.
Former President Donald Trump, now back in office, appeared to confirm the potential arrangement in a message posted late Sunday on Truth Social. However, a Qatari official told reporters that the matter remains under discussion, and the White House said any such gift would be handled in accordance with U.S. law.
Trump wrote: “The fact that the Department of Defense receives, as a GIFT, FOR FREE, a 747 plane to temporarily replace a 40-year-old Air Force One, in a very public and transparent transaction, bothers the crooked Democrats so much that they insist we pay the plane at FULL PRICE.” He did not mention Qatar but dismissed critics as “first-class losers.”
According to the source quoted by Reuters, the aircraft — if accepted — would later be transferred to Trump’s presidential library, raising the possibility that the former president could use it privately after his term ends.
Constitutional questions
The U.S. Constitution prohibits federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval. Democrats and ethics advocates argue the proposed gift is not only potentially unconstitutional but also reflects a deep conflict of interest, given Trump’s business ties in the Middle East.
Critics also note the extraordinary value of the gift, its potential for personal use, and the context of Trump’s scheduled Middle East tour, which begins Tuesday in Saudi Arabia and includes stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
In an email to supporters, the Democratic National Committee accused Trump of seeking to "enrich himself." Sen. Chris Murphy called the proposal “largely illegal,” while Rep. Kelly Morrison said it amounted to “corruption in plain sight.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer mocked the deal on X: “Nothing screams ‘America First’ like an Air Force One gifted by Qatar. This is not just corruption; it’s top-tier foreign influence with extra legroom.”
The Washington-based watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) also raised constitutional concerns. “This looks very much like a situation where a foreign country, with which the president has personal business relations, offers him a $400 million gift just before he meets with its head of state,” said spokesperson Jordan Libowitz, according to the New York Times. He also noted that a Trump-owned company recently announced a new golf course in Qatar, in partnership with a Qatari government entity.
White House, Qatar respond
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration, saying, “Any gift offered by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws. President Trump’s administration is committed to full transparency.”
An unnamed U.S. official told the Times that the White House had sought legal guidance from the Justice Department and the White House Counsel’s Office to ensure the arrangement would comply with the law. Officials also drew parallels to the donation of a retired Air Force One to Ronald Reagan’s presidential library — although that aircraft was decommissioned and displayed in a museum, not potentially used for private purposes.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to rule on Trump’s alleged violations of the Constitution’s emoluments clause in 2021, citing that he was no longer in office. Six of the nine justices currently on the court were appointed by Trump.
Meanwhile, Qatari spokesperson Ali al-Ansari told the Times that “no decision has been made” and the matter is “still under discussion” between the Qatari and U.S. Departments of Defense. He denied that the gift would be announced during Trump’s visit to the gas-rich Gulf nation.
Delayed renewal of Air Force One
During his first term, Trump signed a $3.9 billion contract with Boeing to replace the aging Air Force One fleet — two 747-200Bs that have served since 1990. Delivery of the updated 747-8s was originally scheduled for 2024 but has been pushed to 2027 due to delays at Boeing, The New York Times reported last week.
Trump has expressed frustration over the delays and hinted in February that a replacement aircraft could “come from another country,” reportedly referring to Qatar. That same month, Trump visited a 747-8 owned by the Qatari government while it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport near his Mar-a-Lago estate.
Any aircraft designated as Air Force One must be outfitted with advanced communications, medical equipment, and missile defense systems. According to the Wall Street Journal, Texas-based L3Harris has been contracted to upgrade the Qatari plane if the deal moves forward. A Defense Department official told the Times that the upgrades would take “years, not months,” and could not begin until the U.S. government officially takes ownership of the aircraft.
