Washington — In a surprising turn of events, the royal family of Qatar is reportedly donating a jumbo jet for President Trump's exclusive use as a presidential plane, according to sources that spoke with CBS News. This revelation follows President Trump's upcoming trip to Qatar, marking his first international journey during his second term in office. While the plane, a 747-8, is set to be gifted, it will not be ready for use as Air Force One in the immediate future, and President Trump will not utilize it for his return flight to the United States from the Middle East.
The aircraft must undergo thorough security checks to ensure there are no spying devices or other security concerns before it is officially accepted. One source elaborated on the need for these precautions, highlighting the complexities involved in evaluating a foreign-donated aircraft for presidential use. The plane is expected to be donated to the future Trump presidential library shortly before he leaves office.
Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar's Media Attaché to the U.S., confirmed to CBS News that discussions regarding the transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One are currently taking place between Qatar's Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense. However, he emphasized that the matter is still under review by the legal departments of both nations, and no definitive decision has been made yet. Al-Ansari also clarified that reports suggesting the plane would be gifted during this trip are inaccurate.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the situation on Sunday, stating that any gifts received from foreign governments are always accepted in full compliance with applicable laws. She reassured that President Trump's administration is committed to maintaining full transparency regarding such matters. Additionally, Qatar has offered to donate a plane to the Department of Defense, but this gift will not be accepted during President Trump’s current visit to Qatar, according to a U.S. official.
In light of the potential gift, Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres of New York has taken action by sending a letter to the Government Accountability Office, urging an investigation into the Trump administration's acceptance of the aircraft as a gift. He noted that with an estimated value of $400 million, this jumbo jet would represent the most valuable gift ever presented to a president by a foreign government. Torres has requested an immediate ethics review of the Qatari gift and a formal advisory opinion on whether it violates federal ethics regulations and the Emoluments Clause.
President Trump is set to depart on Monday for his first major foreign trip of his second term, which will include visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates over the course of four days. Leavitt highlighted that this trip aims to strengthen ties between the United States and these nations, referencing Trump's inaugural visit to the Middle East in 2017. During that visit, he introduced his bold peace-through-strength foreign policy strategy.
Now, eight years later, President Trump aims to return to the Middle East to re-emphasize his vision for a proud, prosperous, and successful region. He seeks to foster cooperative relationships between the United States and Middle Eastern nations, with a shared goal of defeating extremism in favor of commerce and cultural exchanges, as Leavitt expressed in her statements.
