[Image: Matt McDermott / X]
In what may be the most valuable gift ever extended to the United States from a foreign government, the Trump administration is preparing to accept a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar.
The over-the-top gift will be used by President Trump as the new Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office, at which time ownership of the plane will be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation, according to sources.
The gift had been expected to be announced next week, when Trump visits Qatar on the first foreign trip of his second term, but a senior White House official said the gift will not be presented or gifted while the president is in Qatar this week.
In a social media post Sunday night, Trump confirmed his administration was preparing to accept the aircraft, calling it a “very public and transparent transaction” with the Defence Department.
Trump had previously toured the plane, which is so opulently configured it is known as “a flying palace,” while it was parked at the West Palm Beach International Airport in February.
The gift is a highly unusual one for a sitting president and is sure to ignite debate over whether it is legal for the Trump administration, and ultimately, the Trump presidential library foundation, to accept such a valuable gift from a foreign nation.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to ABC News, “Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws. President Trump’s Administration is committed to full transparency.”
Democratic pollster Matt McDermott seemed to disagree with the transparency part, saying: “Literally speechless… A foreign regime gifting a jet to a former president. It’s bribery in broad daylight.”
McDermott remarked that the Trump Organisation, run by the president’s children only, had announced a new $5.5bn golf course in Qatar days earlier.
The plane will initially be transferred to the United States Air Force, which will modify the 13-year-old aircraft to meet the U.S. military specifications required for any aircraft used to transport the president of the United States, multiple sources familiar with the proposed arrangement said.
The plane will then be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation no later than Jan. 1, 2029, and any costs relating to its transfer will be paid for by the U.S. Air Force, the sources told ABC News.
Needless to say, the Democrats are not happy about the new plane, with Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer saying via social media, “It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom.”
“Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar.”
Trump clapped back on social media, claiming Democrats are insisting the administration pay “TOP DOLLAR” for the aircraft rather than receive it for free.
“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.”
The primary aeroplanes used in the current Air Force One fleet include two ageing Boeing 747-200 jumbo jets that have been operational since 1990. The Air Force contract with Boeing to replace those aircraft has been riddled with delays and cost overruns.
The original contract was signed in 2018, but as of last year, Boeing anticipated the aircraft would not be ready until 2029, after Trump leaves office.
Trump has expressed his “deep frustration” with the delays, tasking Elon Musk to work with Boeing and the Air Force to speed up the process. Those efforts have been somewhat successful, with Boeing’s most recent estimated delivery date now 2027, but Trump has made it clear he wants a new plane now.
Thanks to Qatar, he’ll get what he wants.
[Source: ABC News]
