Former President Donald Trump has defended a potential agreement in which the government of Qatar may transfer a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jet to be used as a temporary replacement for Air Force One, in a deal that has prompted legal scrutiny and political backlash over possible violations of the Constitution's emoluments clause.
The aircraft, previously used by Qatar's royal family and reportedly described as a "flying palace," is said to be under consideration for transfer to the U.S. Department of Defense for use by President Trump before eventually being handed over to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. The deal has not been finalized, according to Qatari and U.S. officials.
Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar's media attaché to the U.S., told Politico that "the possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar's Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense, but the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made."
Trump toured the aircraft in February while it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport. He has expressed repeated frustration over delays in Boeing's production of a new Air Force One, which is not expected to be ready before 2029. He has pushed for an interim solution and called on Elon Musk to assist in accelerating the effort.
On Truth Social, Trump 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."
Legal experts and Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about the arrangement's constitutionality, citing Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits government officials from accepting gifts from foreign states without congressional approval.
Sources told ABC News that attorneys in the White House Counsel's Office and the Department of Justice prepared a legal opinion for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth concluding that the gift would be lawful. According to the report, the aircraft would be given to the Department of Defense and then transferred to the Trump library at the end of his term, avoiding personal enrichment and sidestepping bribery concerns.
Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly issued a memorandum stating it would be "legally permissible" to condition the transfer on the aircraft eventually becoming the property of the Trump Presidential Library Foundation.
Still, the proposal has drawn criticism from Democratic leaders. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X, "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."
Representative Ritchie Torres (D., N.Y.) has requested investigations by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the Department of Defense Inspector General, and the Office of Government Ethics.
The Democratic National Committee labeled the potential deal "Trump's latest grift." Far-right activist Laura Loomer, a vocal Trump supporter, also expressed alarm, writing, "We cannot accept a $400 million 'gift' from jihadists in suits." She added, "This is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true."
Qatar, a U.S. ally and host to American military forces, has long maintained close ties with successive U.S. administrations. However, its relationships with groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah have fueled bipartisan concerns about undue foreign influence.
The aircraft, a 13-year-old jet, will require modifications to meet U.S. military standards, including communications upgrades and defense systems. It lacks the air-to-air refueling capability of current Air Force One aircraft, which allows them to remain airborne indefinitely.
