United States President Donald Trump is reportedly set 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 coming week, which could be converted into an Air Force One plane.
The Qatari government acknowledged discussions between the two countries about "the possible transfer" of a plane to be used temporarily as Trump's Air Force One, but denied that the jet "is being gifted" or that a final decision had been made.
US-outlet ABC News reported Trump will use the plane as a new version of Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office in January 2029, when ownership will be transferred to the foundation overseeing his yet-to-be-built presidential library.
Trump has expressed frustration at the delays in delivering two new 747-8 aircraft to serve as an updated Air Force One.
During his first term, Trump had reached a deal with Boeing to deliver the jets in 2024. A US Air Force official told Congress last week Boeing had proposed finishing the planes by 2027.
The US has two planes specially fitted out to carry the president of the day. At present, they are Boeing 747-200B planes. Air Force One refers to the radio call sign when the president is aboard any US Air Force plane but has also come to mean the planes themselves.
Is Trump allowed to receive gifts from foreign governments?
Trump officials, anticipating questions about the president accepting such a large gift from a foreign government, have prepared an analysis arguing that doing so would be legal, according to ABC.
The US constitution's emoluments clause bars anyone holding government office from accepting any present, emolument, office or title from any "king, prince, or foreign state", without congressional consent.
What have the Democrats said about it?
Democrats and good government advocates condemned the proposal, saying it raised massive ethical and legal concerns.
"Nothing says 'America First' like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X. "It's not just bribery, it's premium foreign influence with extra legroom."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement: "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."
In a statement, a spokesperson for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, a good government organisation based in Washington, questioned whether the transfer might violate the constitution's ban on US officials accepting gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval.
"This sure looks like a foreign country that the president has personal business dealings in giving the president a $400 million gift right before he meets with their head of state," spokesperson Jordan Libowitz said.
What happens next?
Trump is set to visit Qatar during a trip to the Middle East this week. The aeroplane will not be presented or accepted while Trump is in Qatar.
ABC reported, citing sources, that lawyers for the White House counsel's office and the justice department had prepared an analysis concluding it would be legal and constitutional for the defence department to accept the plane as a gift and later transfer it to Trump's presidential library.
— With additional reporting by the Reuters news agency
