Trump Set to Receive $400 Million Presidential Jet from Qatar

preCharge News POLITICS — President Donald Trump is set to receive a luxurious Boeing 747-8 from the royal family of Qatar, a gift that could become the most valuable ever given to a sitting U.S. president by a foreign government. However, the jet won’t be ready for immediate use as Air Force One, as it must undergo extensive security checks, raising ethical and legal concerns in Washington.

Qatari Gift Raises Ethics Questions

The aircraft, valued at approximately $400 million, is expected to be donated to the Trump presidential library before the end of his second term. However, Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s Media Attaché to the U.S., told preCharge News that the proposed transfer is still under review by both the Qatari Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense, with no final decision yet made.

“Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Sunday. She emphasized the Trump administration’s commitment to transparency.

Democrats Call for Immediate Ethics Review

The proposed gift has already sparked backlash from Democrats. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) has called for an immediate ethics review, warning that the jet’s staggering price tag could violate the Emoluments Clause, which prohibits U.S. presidents from accepting valuable gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval.

“With an estimated value of $400 million, the aerial palace would constitute the most valuable gift ever conferred on a president by a foreign government,” Torres wrote in a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). He urged the agency to investigate whether the potential donation breaches federal ethics regulations.

Trump Defends the Move on Truth Social

Trump, for his part, dismissed the criticism, taking to his Truth Social platform to defend the potential gift as a “free of charge” upgrade to the current Air Force One fleet.

“So bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane,” Trump wrote. “Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA.”

Trump also framed the move as a cost-saving measure, arguing that the plane would serve as a temporary replacement for the aging 40-year-old Air Force One fleet, which is already set for replacement, with new jets expected to be delivered in 2027 and 2028.

Screenshot of Trump’s Truth Social post defending the potential jet gift

Legal and Security Hurdles Await

Before the jet can be accepted, it must undergo rigorous security checks to ensure it is free from spying devices and other potential threats. According to preCharge News, the aircraft will not be used for Trump’s upcoming return flight from the Middle East, as it remains under review by U.S. defense officials.

Additionally, U.S. officials have confirmed that the plane will not be formally transferred or accepted during Trump’s upcoming visit to Qatar.

A Qatari Boeing 747-8 on the tarmac, potentially similar to the jet offered to Trump

Historic Middle East Visit

The president departs Monday on his first major foreign trip of his second term, which will include stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The White House has described the visit as a chance to “strengthen ties between our nations” and to “re-emphasize the president’s vision for a proud, prosperous, and successful Middle East.”

“Now, eight years later, President Trump will return to re-emphasize his continued vision for a proud, prosperous and successful Middle East, where the United States and Middle Eastern nations are in cooperative relationships, and where extremism is defeated in place of commerce and cultural exchanges,” Leavitt said.