President Donald Trump is reportedly considering using a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet, currently owned by Qatar’s royal family, as a temporary replacement for Air Force One, according to U.S. officials and media reports. The move, if confirmed, would mark a rare instance of a foreign nation supplying a U.S. president with a personal aircraft.
The Qatari government acknowledged discussions about a possible transfer of the jet but denied it was being “gifted,” stating that the matter was still under legal review.
U.S. officials have reportedly prepared legal defenses in anticipation of public scrutiny, citing that such an arrangement would be constitutional if approved by Congress. Critics argue it still violates the Emoluments Clause, which bars federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign states.
The controversy comes as Trump embarks on a tour of the Middle East, with stops in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar — his first major foreign trip of his second term. ABC News reported that the jet would be used as his presidential plane through 2029 and later transferred to his planned presidential library.
Trump’s critics, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, accused him of hypocrisy and conflicts of interest. “Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar,” Schumer said. Ethics expert Kathleen Clark called the move “outrageous,” claiming it exemplifies Trump’s pattern of blurring official duties with personal enrichment.
Despite the backlash, administration sources insist that the aircraft — while less advanced than the current Air Force One — could be equipped with secure communications and basic defensive systems. However, it lacks the survivability features of the current VC-25A models, such as missile defense and radiation shielding.
The Trump Organization, now run by Trump’s sons, maintains active business interests in the Middle East, including a luxury golf resort in Qatar. Critics say this further complicates the optics of accepting such a high-value foreign asset during a presidential term.
As speculation grows, the White House remains tight-lipped, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissing concerns as “ridiculous,” claiming the president is not acting out of self-interest. The final decision on the Qatari jet is still pending.
