Trump defends planned gift of $400M jet from Qatar as temporary Air Force One replacement

ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump defended a plan to accept a $400 million Boeing 747-8 luxury jet from Qatar’s royal family as a temporary replacement for the aging Air Force One amid growing concerns from critics over potential ethical violations.

In a post on his Truth Social platform Sunday, Trump described the proposed gift as a "very public and transparent transaction" and blasted Democrats for opposing the deal.

"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. Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA," he wrote.

The Gulf state’s offer to provide the aircraft comes as the replacement for Air Force One, being built by Boeing in the US, faces significant delays.

Trump, who is scheduled to visit Qatar this week, emphasized that the plane would only be a temporary solution.

Reports have suggested the jet might be donated to the Trump presidential library foundation once the president leaves office, raising concerns about possible violations of the emoluments clause of the US Constitution.

ABC News initially reported the proposed gift, which Qatar later called "inaccurate" but confirmed that "the possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration."

Ali Al-Ansari, media attaché at Qatar's Washington embassy, added that the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments and no decision has been made.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

The proposal has sparked criticism, even from some of Trump’s loyal supporters. Influencer Laura Loomer labeled it a "$400 million ‘gift’ from jihadists in suits," suggesting it would be a "stain on the admin if this is true."

Norm Eisen, a former White House ethics tsar and frequent Trump critic, called the move "illegal and unconstitutional."

The Qatari-owned 747-8, just over a decade old, is one of the most luxurious private jets in the world.

Trump reportedly toured the aircraft at Palm Beach International Airport in February, according to The New York Times.

He is set to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates this week, a trip that has also drawn criticism due to business dealings tied to the Trump Organization.