In a move that might be considered one of the most significant gifts ever presented to the United States by a foreign government, the Trump administration is preparing to accept a lavish Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar. This remarkable aircraft is set to serve as the new Air Force One for President Donald Trump until just before he leaves office. Following this period, ownership of the plane will be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation, according to sources familiar with the proposed arrangement shared with ABC News.
The official announcement regarding this extravagant gift is anticipated next week, coinciding with Trump's first foreign trip of his second term to Qatar. Sources close to the situation disclosed that Trump had previously toured the aircraft, which is so lavishly designed it has earned the nickname "flying palace," during its visit to the West Palm Beach International Airport in February.
This unprecedented arrangement has raised significant questions regarding its legality. Critics are concerned about whether it is permissible for the Trump administration, and ultimately the Trump Presidential Library Foundation, to accept such a valuable gift from a foreign power. To address these concerns, legal experts from the White House counsel's office and the Department of Justice have reportedly prepared an analysis for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. This analysis concludes that it is legal for the Department of Defense to accept the aircraft as a gift, without violating laws against bribery or the Constitution's emoluments clause, which prohibits U.S. government officials from accepting gifts from foreign entities.
Sources informed ABC News that Attorney General Pam Bondi and Trump's chief White House lawyer, David Warrington, determined the donation could be legally permissible, provided that ownership is transferred to Trump's presidential library before the end of his term. Last week, Bondi issued a legal memorandum to the White House counsel's office after Warrington sought her guidance on the legality of the Pentagon accepting such a generous donation. As of now, both the White House and the DOJ have not responded to requests for comments, and the Qatari embassy has also not provided any statements regarding the gift.
Initially, the aircraft will be transferred to the United States Air Force, which will modify the 13-year-old jet to meet military specifications necessary for presidential transport. Multiple sources familiar with the arrangement noted that the plane is expected to be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation no later than January 1, 2029. Additionally, the U.S. Air Force will cover any costs associated with this transfer.
Experts in the aviation industry estimate that the aircraft Trump will receive is valued at approximately $400 million. This valuation does not include additional communications security equipment that the Air Force will need to install to ensure the safe transport of the President of the United States. According to the Wall Street Journal, the aviation firm L3Harris has already been tasked with overhauling the aircraft to meet the stringent requirements of a presidential jet.
Currently, the primary aircraft in the Air Force One fleet consists of two aging Boeing 747-200 jumbo jets, which have been operational since 1990. The contract with Boeing to replace these outdated aircraft has faced numerous delays and cost overruns. Although the original contract was signed in 2018, Boeing recently anticipated that the new aircraft would not be ready until 2029—after Trump leaves office. The President has openly expressed frustration regarding these delays and has enlisted the help of Elon Musk to collaborate with Boeing and the Air Force to expedite the process. Recent updates suggest that Boeing's estimated delivery date has improved to 2027, but Trump has emphasized his desire for a new plane this year.
