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President Donald Trump has accepted a luxury plane as a “gift” from Qatar’s royal family that will be used as Air Force One―but will reportedly continue to use the jet even after he leaves office.
Officials from the Middle Eastern country said the gift was between governments rather than a personal present to Trump, noting the plane was being given by the Qatari Ministry of Defense to the Pentagon. The Boeing 747-8 jet will be retrofitted to make it suitable for use as the presidential plane, including the addition of heightened security features.
However, the jet will then be donated to Trump’s presidential library when he leaves office, meaning he can continue to use it, according to multiple news outlets.
Newsweek has reached out by email, outside of usual working hours, to the White House seeking further information and comment.
AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
The nature of the gift is unprecedented given its value, estimated at around $400 million, which has raised legal and ethical questions and prompted critics to allege the gift is “bribery” in action.
The Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on X (formerly Twitter): “Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar. It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom.”
Trump defended the move and attempted to see off potential criticism online, by posting on his Truth Social platform: “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 [Make America Great Again].”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
