Trump Defends Qatar’s Gift of Air Force One/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump defended accepting a Boeing 747-8 from Qatar as a cost-saving move for the U.S., despite ethical concerns. The Qatari government said the transfer is still under review. Critics from both parties question the legality and optics of a foreign government gifting a potential Air Force One.
Trump and Qatar Jet Gift Quick Looks
- Trump defends Qatar’s gift of a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet
- Plane could serve temporarily as Air Force One during his term
- Qatar says transfer still under legal review
- Critics cite Emoluments Clause, security risks
- Jet’s ownership may transfer to Trump’s presidential library post-term
- Aircraft lacks full Air Force One capabilities
- Bipartisan backlash includes ethics experts, lawmakers
- Trump links gift to cost savings for taxpayers
- Plane similar to jet Trump toured in February
- Trump Organization expanding ties in Qatar and Gulf region
Trump Defends Qatar’s Gift of Air Force One
Deep Look
Trump Backs Qatar’s Jet Gift Amid Ethics, Security Concerns
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is defending plans to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 aircraft from the Qatari royal family, saying the gifted jet offers “tremendous savings” for U.S. taxpayers and could temporarily serve as Air Force One during his second term.
In a late Sunday post on Truth Social, Trump blasted critics of the move:
“The fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE… so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane.”
The Jet in Question
The aircraft, currently owned by Qatar and similar to the one Trump viewed at Palm Beach Airport in February, may soon be outfitted with secure communications and limited countermeasures to allow temporary use as the president’s official plane.
While it lacks the hardened defenses, radiation shielding, and refueling capacity of the current VC-25A aircraft — and of the long-delayed replacements Boeing is building — officials say it could be quickly modified for limited presidential use.
According to ABC News, ownership would transfer to Trump’s presidential library foundation after his second term ends in 2029.
Qatar: ‘Still Under Review’
Qatar’s embassy said the deal is still under legal review.
“The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is under consideration… but no decision has been made,” said Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s media attaché.
Still, the announcement is expected during Trump’s upcoming visit to the Gulf, which includes stops in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Ethics Alarm Bells
Experts and watchdogs quickly flagged the move as problematic.
“This would be unprecedented,” said Jordan Libowitz of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).
“If Trump is making foreign policy in the Middle East, is he influenced by the gifts and business ties?”
Kathleen Clark, law professor and government ethics expert, was blunt:
“Trump is using the federal government’s power to enrich himself.”
Political and Legal Backlash
Democratic leaders didn’t hold back.
“Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar,” quipped Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Legal scholars point to the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits presidents from accepting gifts from foreign governments without Congress’s approval — a point Trump’s legal team disputes, arguing it doesn’t apply to temporary government assets.
Security and Sovereignty Questions
Even some conservatives raised red flags about the potential national security risks. The Qatari jet, though a high-end 747-8, does not match the military-grade systems and defensive features of the current Air Force One fleet.
“This plane simply does not offer the same level of survivability,” said a former U.S. official familiar with the aircraft.
Trump’s Business Ties in the Gulf
Trump’s Trump Organization, now managed by sons Don Jr. and Eric, has growing real estate ventures in Qatar and the Gulf. That includes a new luxury golf project with Qatari Diar, a state-backed real estate firm.
Though the Trump Organization has voluntary ethics guidelines, they now allow private foreign deals — a departure from his first term’s ban on such business relationships.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed questions about conflicts of interest, calling them “ridiculous.”
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