In what might be the most valuable gift ever given to the United States by a foreign government, the Trump administration is getting ready to accept a super luxurious Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar. The plane is set to be used as the new Air Force One for President Donald Trump until shortly before he finishes his term, at which point ownership will be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation, sources familiar with the plan told ABC News. The announcement of this extravagant gift is expected to be made next week during Trump’s visit to Qatar, which will be his first foreign trip of his second term.
Trump had the chance to explore the plane, often referred to as a “flying palace,” while it was parked at the West Palm Beach International Airport back in February. The highly unusual and unprecedented arrangement is sure to raise questions about its legality for the Trump administration and the Trump presidential library foundation to accept such a valuable gift from a foreign power. To anticipate these questions, sources mentioned that lawyers for the White House counsel’s office and the Department of Justice conducted an analysis for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, concluding that it is legal for the Department of Defense to receive the aircraft as a gift and later hand it over to the Trump library without violating any laws against bribery or the Constitution’s prohibition on government officials accepting gifts from foreign entities.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and Trump’s top White House lawyer David Warrington determined that it would be “legally permissible” for the donation of the aircraft to be conditioned on transferring ownership to Trump’s presidential library before the end of his term. Bondi provided a legal memorandum to the White House counsel’s office after Warrington sought advice on the legality of the Pentagon accepting such a donation.
The plane will initially be given to the United States Air Force, which will make modifications to the 13-year-old aircraft to meet the necessary military specifications for transporting the president. It will then be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation no later than January 1, 2029, with any related costs covered by the U.S. Air Force. The estimated value of the aircraft is around $400 million, and that’s without considering the additional communications security equipment that the Air Force will need to install to ensure the safe transportation of the president.
The primary aircraft currently used in the Air Force One fleet consists of two aging Boeing 747-200 jumbo jets that have been in operation since 1990. The contract with Boeing to replace these aircraft has faced delays and cost overruns, with the new planes not expected to be ready until 2029. Trump has been vocal about his frustrations with the delays, enlisting the help of Elon Musk to expedite the process. Although there have been some improvements in the delivery date, Trump is adamant about wanting a new plane this year.
Ultimately, the acceptance of this gift is a significant development that raises legal and ethical questions. However, the White House and DOJ have concluded that the arrangement does not constitute bribery or violate the Constitution’s prohibition on foreign gifts since the plane is being given to the United States Air Force and the presidential library foundation. The gift from Qatar presents a unique situation that will undoubtedly be closely monitored as it unfolds.
