On Sunday, Qatar denied reports that it had decided whether to provide a large plane as a temporary “Air Force One” during President Trump’s visit and emphasized that the proposal is still under consideration.
Qatari news official Ali Al-Ansari stated, “Reports about Qatar planning to gift an aircraft to the U.S. during President Trump’s visit are inaccurate.”
The statement mentioned that the transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as “Air Force One” is currently being negotiated between the Qatari Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense but is still pending review by both legal departments before a decision is made.
According to a report aired by ABC News on Sunday, President Trump is preparing to accept a luxurious Boeing 747-8 jet provided by the Qatari royal family during his visit to the wealthy Gulf nation. The aircraft is estimated to be worth around 400 million dollars.
The report indicated that the plane would be handed over to the U.S. Department of Defense for proper reconfiguration to meet the safety and technical specifications required for the president’s travel. Subsequently, the aircraft would be used as “Air Force One” during Trump’s term and then transferred to the Trump Presidential Library after his tenure ends.
The Trump administration has prepared a legal analysis arguing that accepting this gift is lawful since the aircraft is not directly gifted to Trump himself but managed by the Pentagon before transferring to the Trump Presidential Library.
When asked by “The Epoch Times” for comments, the White House neither confirmed nor denied the news. Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt provided a statement saying, “Any gifts from foreign governments are received in full compliance with all relevant laws. The Trump administration is committed to full transparency.”
According to the “Emoluments Clause” in the U.S. Constitution: “No Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under the United States, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept… any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from… any King, Prince, or foreign State.”
Currently, the U.S. has two Air Force One aircraft, both modified Boeing 747s with an age exceeding 30 years. Boeing was set to begin a replacement program, but delays have persisted, and implementation has not occurred yet.
The delivery of the first new aircraft is expected in 2027, with the second scheduled for 2028.
The report sparked strong criticism from Democrats.
Jerry Nadler, the lead Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, stated that if Trump were to accept the aircraft without congressional approval, it would constitute a violation of the Constitution under the Emoluments Clause.
Nadler said, “There is no question about the Emoluments Clause in the Constitution: no President may accept any benefit, reward, or favor from a foreign government without explicit approval from Congress. Any action contrary to this clause is a blatant violation of the President’s oath and a profound betrayal of public trust.”