In a move described as unprecedented in both scale and symbolism, the Trump administration is preparing to accept a super-luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar. The aircraft, valued at approximately $400 million, is intended to serve as the new Air Force One for President Donald Trump during his second term, with plans for it to be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation after he leaves office.

According to The Hindu, li Al-Ansari, Qatar’s media attaché, said in a statement, “Reports that a jet is being gifted by Qatar to the United States government during the upcoming visit of President Trump are inaccurate.”

“The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Defence and the U.S. Department of Defence,” the statement said. “But the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made.”

If the gift does happen, the Qatari royal family’s gift, described by sources as a “flying palace,” will not immediately enter service. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) will first conduct extensive inspections and modifications, including security upgrades and checks for surveillance equipment, before the aircraft is deemed fit for presidential use. The process of retrofitting the jet is expected to take up to two years, with military contractor L3Harris likely to handle the upgrades.

President Trump personally toured the opulent aircraft at Palm Beach International Airport in February, expressing admiration for its luxurious appointments. The plane’s interior is reportedly far more extravagant than the current Air Force One fleet, which consists of two Boeing 747-200B jets that have been in service since the early 1990s.

A gift of this magnitude from a foreign government, such as the luxury Boeing 747-8 jet from Qatar, does require approval from Congress.

This requirement stems from the U.S. Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause (Article I, Section 9, Clause 8), which explicitly prohibits any person holding an office of profit or trust (including the President) from accepting “any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State” without the “Consent of the Congress”. This clause was designed to guard against foreign influence and corruption.

Historically, presidents and other federal officials have either sought congressional approval to accept such gifts or, lacking that approval, have deposited them with the U.S. government rather than keeping them personally. Congress has sometimes granted consent through specific bills or general statutes, such as the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act, which allows acceptance of gifts of minimal value or, in some cases, gifts to the United States government rather than to an individual.

In the current case, legal analyses prepared for the Trump administration argue that the gift is being given to the U.S. Air Force (i.e., the government), not directly to Trump, and thus does not violate the Emoluments Clause as long as it is not a personal gift. However, many legal experts and members of Congress are calling for a formal ethics review and congressional action, especially since the plane is ultimately intended for Trump’s presidential library foundation, raising further questions about private benefit.

Kathleen Clark of the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, accused Mr. Trump of being “committed to exploiting the federal government’s power, not on behalf of policy goals, but for amassing personal wealth.”

The announcement is set to coincide with Trump’s high-profile visit to Qatar, during which he is expected to discuss major U.S.-Middle East investment initiatives. Trump’s administration has fostered close relations with Qatar and other Gulf states, encouraging large-scale investments in the U.S. and facilitating business deals for American companies, including his own. 

Donald Trump and the Trump Organization have developed notable business relationships with Qatar in recent years:

• Golf and Real Estate Projects: The Trump Organization recently finalized a deal for a luxury golf resort and residential development in Qatar. This project is being executed in partnership with Qatari Diar, a real estate firm owned by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund and led by a government minister. The development will feature Trump-branded villas and an 18-hole golf course along the Qatari coast.
• Broader Investment Partnerships: Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), has pledged billions in U.S. investments over the past decade, including significant stakes in real estate and technology companies. These investments are part of Qatar’s broader strategy to strengthen economic ties with the U.S., and Trump has actively encouraged such capital flows during his presidency.

Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and former senior adviser to in Trump’s first term as President, has engaged in significant business with Qatar, particularly after leaving the White House:

• Affinity Partners Investments: After his tenure as a senior adviser in the Trump administration, Kushner founded the private equity firm Affinity Partners in 2021. The firm has received substantial investments from Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, including the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). Reports indicate that Qatar invested approximately $200 million to $400 million in Kushner’s fund, with the total Gulf region investments reaching $1.5 billion by late 2024. These investments contributed to Affinity Partners’ assets under management jumping to $4.8 billion after a major cash injection from QIA and other Gulf investors.
• Real Estate Connections: There have also been efforts by Kushner Companies (the Kushner family real estate business) to secure Qatari investments, notably in the troubled 666 Fifth Avenue property in Manhattan. While direct Qatari government investment was ultimately not secured, a company linked to the Qatari royal family did help bail out the property in 2018.
• Diplomatic and Business Meetings: Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner organized and attended meetings with Qatar’s prime minister and prominent American business leaders, discussing regional issues and Qatari relations with the U.S. and Israel. These meetings, while not direct business transactions, indicate ongoing networking and relationship-building at the highest levels.

When reporters asked about the report White House Press Secretary told reporters Friday, “I think it’s frankly ridiculous that anyone in this room would even suggest that President Trump is doing anything for his own benefit. He left a life of luxury and a life of running a very successful real estate empire for public service, not just once but twice…This is a president who has actually lost money for being president.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is expected to approve the gift, has done extensive work with Qatar as a lobbyist. After serving as Florida’s attorney general, Bondi joined the prominent lobbying firm Ballard Partners and registered as a foreign agent for the Embassy of the State of Qatar under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. She began this work in 2019 and, after a brief hiatus to work in the White House Counsel’s office during President Trump’s first impeachment, she resumed her lobbying activities for Qatar in 2020.

Bondi’s role included advocating for Qatari interests in Congress, particularly in the lead-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and she was compensated $115,000 per month for her efforts. Her work involved providing advice and assistance to Qatar on issues such as human trafficking and labor reforms.

On Monday Trump said, “I think it’s a great gesture from Qatar. Appreciate it very much,” Trump said. “I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer. I mean, I could be a stupid person and say, ‘No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane.’ But it was, I thought it was a great gesture.”

“I think it was a gesture because of the fact that we help, have helped, and continue to, we will continue to all of those countries, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and others,” he continued.