Officials say discussions are ongoing, not finalized, amid political backlash and ethics concerns…
Amid a burst of speculation, Qatari officials are forcefully rejecting reports that the Gulf nation is giving a $400 million Boeing 747 jet to President Donald Trump as a personal gift.
The denials come after ABC News reported over the weekend that Qatar intends to provide the U.S. government with a luxury aircraft—described as a “flying palace”—that could be used by Trump as Air Force One for the rest of his second term. According to the report, ownership would then shift to Trump’s presidential library foundation once he leaves office.
ABC: Aircraft to Be Announced During Trump Visit
The original report cited unnamed sources who claimed an announcement could come as early as this week during a planned trip by Trump to Qatar. ABC said the aircraft, a heavily customized Boeing 747-8, had been made available for Trump’s use, potentially replacing the aging fleet currently designated as Air Force One.
Trump confirmed part of the story in a post on X, calling it a “gift” to the Defense Department meant to temporarily replace the current 40-year-old aircraft. He framed the move as a cost-saving win for taxpayers.
But critics immediately raised red flags, citing potential violations of federal ethics laws, including the Emoluments Clause, which prohibits U.S. officials from accepting gifts from foreign states without congressional approval.
Bipartisan Concerns: “Bribery” or Smart Deal?
Reactions have poured in from across the political spectrum. Democrats such as Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) slammed the arrangement as both legally and ethically questionable. Schumer also used the moment to mock former President Trump’s “America First” mantra, quipping: “Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar. It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom.”
Meanwhile, some MAGA influencers, including Laura Loomer, also voiced skepticism, according to a report by Meditate:
“We cannot accept a $400 million ‘gift’ from jihadists in suits,” she wrote on X. “I love President Trump. I would take a bullet for him… But I have to call a spade a spade.”
Fox News host Mark Levin echoed Loomer, calling Qatar a “terror state” and warning that the opulent gift is no cover for “anti-American, Jew-hating propaganda.”
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) formally requested that the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the Department of Defense Inspector General and the Office of Government Ethics investigate whether the transfer violates federal ethics rules or the Constitution.
“With an estimated value of $400 million, the aerial palace would constitute the most valuable gift ever conferred on a President by a foreign government,” Torres wrote, calling for an “immediate” review.
Qatar Pushes Back: “No Finalized Deal”
In response to the furious, late-breaking developments, Qatari officials are now scrambling to contain the fallout. Late Sunday, Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s media attaché to the United States, issued a statement denying the reports, calling them inaccurate.
“Reports that a jet is being gifted by Qatar to the United States government during the upcoming visit of President Trump are inaccurate,” the statement read.
Al-Ansari said that while talks have taken place between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense, “the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made.”
White House Response: “Full Compliance”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not confirm specific details of the jet deal but emphasized legal safeguards.
“Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws,” she said, adding that the Trump administration is committed to transparency.
According to ABC’s follow-up, internal legal reviews by the Office of Legal Counsel and the Department of Justice concluded that the transaction is legally permissible, provided the plane is first donated to the U.S. government and only later transferred to Trump’s presidential foundation.
Two key figures—Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Counsel David Warrington—are said to have signed off on the arrangement.
Trump’s Defense: “Transparent Transaction”
Trump himself wasted little time dismissing the controversy as yet another partisan witch hunt. Posting to social media on Monday morning, he wrote:
“So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40-year-old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane. Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA.”
He did not address concerns about the aircraft eventually becoming his personal property through his foundation, which remains the sticking point for many in Congress.
The Foreign Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution is designed to prevent federal officials—including the president—from being influenced or corrupted by foreign governments through gifts, payments or titles. In this context, “emolument” is broadly interpreted to mean any benefit, compensation or profit, and the Constitution requires congressional consent before such benefits can be accepted.
Not the First Jet Headache for Trump
This isn’t Trump’s first time in the middle of a presidential aircraft controversy. The Boeing contract to build two new Air Force One jets—originally signed for $3.9 billion—has faced years of delays. Trump has openly complained about the slow rollout and even reportedly approached Elon Musk about expediting delivery.
Sources told ABC that Trump personally toured the Qatari jet in February while it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport, raising further questions about how far the deal had progressed.
The aircraft is reportedly outfitted with ultra-luxurious amenities, though little is known about its exact specifications.
What’s Next?
Despite Qatar’s attempts to walk back the narrative, the story isn’t going away. Democrats are calling for investigations, some conservatives are uneasy, and Trump, as usual, is embracing the chaos—using it to rally his base and portray his critics as petty or anti-success.
For now, the official line is that nothing has been finalized. But given the optics, the price tag and the high-profile players involved, this is a story unlikely to land smoothly anytime soon.
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Loomer is right. Love Trump, but this deal (if accurate) stinks to high heaven. Especially from the double-dealing quataris.
It would likely take at least 2 years for the plane to be inspected, determined to be “clean” security-wise, and to install the necessary US security, communications and protective features required. Who would perform that, Boeing, which can’t build/modify anything without major issues, delays, and cost overruns??? Nice idea, that “recognizes” the problems that exist getting the replacement jets finished. Indeed, are the existing “Air Force Ones” truly still airworthy? Current guesstimates by Boeing are for delivery of one or more of the new planes by some time in 2027 (Ha! Ha!). It does not appear likely that this “gift” would be of any help …