WASHINGTON — In a move that is expected to spark ethical and legal scrutiny, the Trump administration is reportedly preparing to accept a lavish Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar — a diplomatic gift valued at approximately $400 million — for immediate use as a replacement Air Force One, with plans to later transfer the aircraft to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation.
Sources familiar with the arrangement told ABC News that the formal announcement could come as early as next week, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Qatar — his first overseas trip since beginning his second term. The aircraft, known for its extravagant interior as a “flying palace,” was personally toured by Trump earlier this year at West Palm Beach International Airport.
Under the proposed agreement, the U.S. Air Force will first receive the aircraft, then retrofit it with the communications and security systems required for presidential transport. The jet, originally built 13 years ago, will be modified to meet the highest military standards before being transferred no later than Jan. 1, 2029, to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. All transfer-related costs are expected to be covered by the U.S. Air Force.
The unusual nature of the gift — and its staggering value — has raised questions about potential violations of federal ethics laws, anti-bribery statutes, and the Constitution’s emoluments clause, which prohibits federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign states. But Trump administration lawyers, including White House counsel David Warrington and Attorney General Pam Bondi, have reportedly concluded the deal passes legal muster.
In a legal memorandum prepared for the White House, Bondi reportedly argued that the transfer is constitutional because the jet is not being gifted to Trump personally but rather to the U.S. government and later to his presidential library, a private nonprofit. The memo also states the gift is not linked to any official action and therefore does not constitute bribery under federal law.
Legal experts, however, are expected to debate that interpretation given the gift’s timing, high profile, and direct benefit to Trump’s legacy.
The current Air Force One fleet consists of two aging Boeing 747-200 aircraft that have been in service since 1990. Replacing them has been an ongoing challenge, plagued by delays and budget overruns. Although a contract was signed with Boeing in 2018 to deliver new jets by 2029, Trump has pushed to expedite the process, even enlisting Elon Musk to coordinate with Boeing and the Air Force to accelerate production. Despite limited success, Boeing’s most recent estimate suggests a delivery date of 2027 — still short of Trump’s goal to have a new presidential aircraft this year.
L3Harris, an American aerospace contractor, has already been commissioned to upgrade the Qatari aircraft to meet presidential requirements, according to sources.
Both the White House and the Department of Justice declined to comment. The Qatari Embassy did not respond to inquiries about the reported donation.
If finalized, the gift would be among the most valuable ever received by the U.S. from a foreign government and could set a precedent for the role of foreign influence in shaping presidential legacies.
