Trump Administration Set to Accept Boeing 747-8 as Gift from Qatar

Sources indicate that the Trump administration plans to accept a Boeing 747-8 as a gift from Qatar’s royal family, intended for use as Air Force One. Legal analyses suggest compliance with US laws permitting the acceptance of this gift, which could eventually transfer to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. The aircraft is valued at roughly $400 million and will undergo modifications by the US Air Force before being handed over to the foundation.

In a stunning development, sources have revealed that the Trump administration is set to accept a luxurious Boeing 747-8 from Qatar’s royal family. This bespoke jumbo jet, dubbed a “flying palace,” is intended for use as Air Force One, at least until Trump’s term wraps up. Following his presidency, the aircraft ownership will shift to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation, according to insiders speaking to ABC News.

This announcement is expected next week when Trump undertakes his first foreign trip of his second term to Qatar. During a visit in February, Trump had a chance to tour the aircraft while it was stationed at West Palm Beach Airport, highlighting its lavish features.

However, this arrangement raises significant legal questions regarding the acceptance of such a lavish gift from a foreign power. White House lawyers, alongside the Department of Justice, are said to have drafted an analysis affirming that it’s legal for the Pentagon to accept this plane and later transfer it to the Trump library, complying with laws against bribery and the Constitution’s emoluments clause.

Sources confirmed that Attorney General Pam Bondi and Trump’s legal advisor David Warrington deemed the donation legal, as it could be conditioned on the transfer of the jet’s ownership to the presidential library by the end of Trump’s term. Bondi provided a legal memo to the counsel’s office last week to clarify the legal standing of this donation.

The Qatari embassy has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the plane. Initially, the aircraft will be given to the United States Air Force for necessary modifications to meet military standards. It is set to be handed over to the Trump foundation no later than January 1, 2029, with all associated costs covered by the Air Force.

Aviation experts place the value of this aircraft at about $400 million, excluding the cost of additional security features needed for presidential travel. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the deal, mentioning that L3Harris has been tasked with modifying the plane for its new role.

The current Air Force One fleet primarily consists of two older Boeing 747-200 jets dating back to 1990, which have faced many delays and costs in replacement. The original contract with Boeing, established in 2018, is now expected to see the new jets ready by 2027, but Trump is eager for a new plane this year, which has been a point of frustration for him.

Original Source: abcnews.go.com