The Qatari royal family is reportedly preparing to gift former U.S. President Donald Trump a luxury Boeing 747-8 aircraft valued at approximately $400 million, according to sources cited by ABC News and The New York Times.
The 13-year-old aircraft is expected to be transferred to the U.S. Air Force and retrofitted to meet military specifications for presidential transport, with plans to designate it as a future Air Force One.
Touted as potentially the most valuable foreign gift ever offered to the U.S. government, the move is drawing scrutiny over legal and ethical implications. The Qatari royal family, whose net worth is estimated at $335 billion, is among the wealthiest in the world.
Reports suggest that after Trump leaves office, the aircraft will be donated to his presidential library—allowing him access as a private citizen.
To preempt legal challenges, Trump’s legal team—reportedly including former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House lawyer David Warrington—has prepared documentation asserting the gift is lawful. They argue it does not violate the U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clause or federal laws prohibiting gifts from foreign entities.
The development comes as Trump prepares for an upcoming diplomatic tour of the Middle East, with Qatar expected to be one of the stops. The former president has previously expressed interest in modernizing the presidential fleet.
