President Donald Trump is reportedly set to accept one of the most extravagant gifts ever offered to an American leader: a $400 million Boeing 747 jumbo jet, courtesy of Qatar’s royal family.
The state-of-the-art aircraft—dubbed a “flying palace”—was offered earlier this year during discussions in Florida and is being positioned as a potential replacement for the ageing Air Force One fleet. The gift is reportedly intended for Trump’s future presidential library, enabling him to use the aircraft personally after his term concludes.
Trump addressed the matter on his Truth Social platform, dismissing critics and portraying the arrangement as a transparent, cost-saving measure for the U.S. government.
He wrote: “So the fact that the Defence Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40-year-old Air Force One, temporarily… bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane.”
However, the proposed donation has drawn criticism not just from political opponents but also from some of Trump’s most vocal supporters.
Conservative activist and Trump loyalist Laura Loomer expressed concern, stating she would “take a bullet” for Trump but argued the gift should be rejected.
Loomer cited Qatar’s alleged financial ties to Iranian groups accused of harming U.S. service members and warned that accepting the jet could be a damaging decision for the administration.
Despite controversy, legal reviews by former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House legal counsel David Warrington concluded the donation would be lawful, provided the aircraft is officially transferred to Trump’s presidential library before the end of his term.
The aircraft in question, a Boeing 747-8, typically carries a price tag of around $400 million. The U.S. government has been working for over 15 years to replace its current Air Force One planes, which have been in service since the early 1990s. The interiors of the current models were designed under former First Lady Nancy Reagan.
In stark contrast, the interior of the proposed aircraft is designed by luxury French design firm Alberto Pinto, and includes private suites, dining rooms, and high-end conference facilities adorned with leather furnishings and plush carpeting.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasised that any gift from a foreign entity is reviewed in compliance with all relevant laws. “President Trump’s Administration is committed to full transparency,” she said.
