President Donald Trump is championing a bold offer from Qatar’s royal family: a $400 million Boeing 747-8 to serve as a temporary Air Force One, a move he says will save taxpayer dollars and bolster America’s image.

Announced ahead of Trump’s Middle East trip, including a stop in Qatar, the deal would see the luxury jet transferred to his presidential library after his term.

Critics call it a blatant ethics violation, but Trump and his allies argue it’s a smart play to modernize an outdated fleet while advancing national interests.

The proposal emerged as Trump prepares to visit Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, his first major foreign trip since taking office in 2025. Qatar’s offer would provide a 13-year-old 747-8—complete with lavish interiors—to replace the 40-year-old Air Force One planes until new Boeing models, delayed until at least 2027, are ready.

Trump, who inspected the jet in February at Palm Beach International Airport, sees it as a win.

“Why would we turn down a free plane?” Trump said Monday, praising Qatar’s “nice gesture.” On Truth Social, he slammed detractors:

“The Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, to replace the 40-year-old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction. Crooked Democrats insist we pay TOP DOLLAR. The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the arrangement’s legality. “Any donation to this government is always done with full transparency,” she said Monday. “President Trump left a life of luxury for public service, not personal gain.”

The Pentagon would equip the plane with secure communications, though it lacks advanced defenses like air-to-air refueling found in current Air Force One models.

Qatar’s media attache, Ali Al-Ansari, cautioned that the deal isn’t finalized. “The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is under consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense, but the matter remains under review,” he said.

Trump’s team, backed by White House and Justice Department lawyers, insists the gift is above board, with plans to donate the plane to Trump’s library foundation by January 2029.

Democrats are up in arms, accusing Trump of exploiting his office. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer mocked the deal, saying, “Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar. It’s not just bribery—it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom.”

Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., demanded an ethics probe, labeling it a “flying grift” that violates the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which bars officials from accepting foreign gifts without congressional consent.

Ethics concerns are amplified by the Trump Organization’s $5.5 billion golf resort deal in Qatar, tied to a state-backed firm.

Norm Eisen, a former White House ethics lawyer, warned of the precedent:

“It’s so plain what’s going on here—they want to put a $400 million aircraft in Trump’s hands to scratch his itch.”

Trump’s supporters see the deal as a pragmatic solution to Boeing’s delayed, over-budget Air Force One replacements. With Qatar’s jet, the administration can project strength without draining public funds—a hallmark of Trump’s deal-making approach.

As he heads to Qatar, the move underscores his commitment to putting America first, even if it ruffles feathers.

The debate boils down to principle versus practicality. Is this a shrewd win for taxpayers or a dangerous ethical lapse? As Trump pushes his agenda, the Qatar jet saga will test the limits of his unconventional leadership.

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