President Donald Trump not only shies away from being direct with the media and delivering his erratic sermons, but he also does not mind taking big, luxurious gifts! He is reportedly willing to accept a luxury Boeing 747 8 jumbo jet as a gift from the ruling family of Qatar during his trip to the Middle East this week, which is potentially ready to be converted into a presidential aircraft.
Critics say the action could amount to a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval. However, Ali Al-Ansari, a spokesperson for Qatar, denied that the jet was being “gifted” and clarified that no final decision had been reached.
As per The Irish Star, the aircraft shall be used as his official plane until he leaves office in January 2029. In addition, in a statement, “The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as their usual Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense,” said, “But the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made.”
Donald Trump’s trip to the Middle East will mark his first extended international travel, which will also include places like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, as reported by ABC News, despite the denial, Trump has received backlash from Kathleen Clark, a government ethics expert at Washington University in St. Louis, as he accused the 78-year-old of using his title and power for personal gain.
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“This is outrageous,” Clark said. “Trump believes he will get away with this.” Moreover, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also took a jab at Trump, saying, “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.”
Consequently, the White House authorities claimed that if Trump accepts the aircraft as an official gift and not as a personal one, then he would not violate the Emoluments Clause in the Constitution. Furthermore, the Boeing 747 and Air Force One are currently being modified, both of which are over 30 years old. New replacements—VC-25Bs—are being made.
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However, delays in the process would only present the modified versions in 2027, with the second expected in 2028. Therefore, Trump’s administration wishes to upgrade the Qatari plane with secure communications and limited defense systems.
Though, unlike Trump’s Air Force One, which is equipped with features like radiation shielding and missile countermeasures (not to forget that they serve guests Chick-fil-A on his jet), in contrast, the Qatari aircraft described as a “flying palace,” which costs about $400 million, lacks mid-air refueling capabilities, which are present in the existing VC-25As.
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Only when the visit concludes will we know if all that’s written in the article remains true; until then, we wish we were as lucky as Trump to travel in a private jet.
