President Donald Trump is once again at the center of controversy after confirming his interest in using a luxurious Boeing 747 8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar as a temporary replacement for Air Force One. The jet, often referred to as “a flying palace,” has sparked an outcry among critics who claim the move could violate constitutional ethics rules.
The Qatari government clarified on Sunday that no final decision has been made regarding the aircraft, but Trump defended the possibility of accepting the jet at no cost to the U.S. government. “So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA.”
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ABC News reported that Trump had toured the aircraft and was impressed by its lavish interior. The plan would see Trump use the jet until near the end of a potential second term, after which it would be transferred to the foundation managing the Trump Presidential Library.
However, legal experts have raised significant concerns, citing the U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits government officials from accepting gifts from foreign states without congressional approval.
“It’s so plain what’s going on here — they want to put a $400 million aircraft in the hands of Trump to scratch his itch,” White House ethics lawyer Norm Eisen told The Washington Post. He added that such a gift could be the largest ever offered to a U.S. president by a foreign government in modern history.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also condemned the proposal. “Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar,” the New York Democrat said. “It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom.”
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Trump has long criticized the current Air Force One and expressed frustration with Boeing’s delays in delivering two new jets under a fixed-price contract. “We may do something else. We may go and buy a plane or get a plane or something,” he told reporters in February.
As Trump travels to the Middle East this week, speculation continues. Qatar’s media attaché, Ali Al-Ansari, reiterated, “The possible transfer of an aircraft… is currently under consideration… [but] no decision has been made.” Reports suggest Trump’s legal team is preparing arguments to assert the deal’s legality despite the ongoing ethical debate.
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