The US White House is in discussions with Qatar’s royal family regarding the potential transfer of a luxury jumbo jet, which may serve as a temporary Air Force One presidential aircraft.
Qatar has denied that the plane would be a gift but confirmed that a transfer for “temporary use” is being discussed between the two governments.
According to CBS News, the aircraft could eventually be donated to Donald Trump’s presidential library after the conclusion of his term.
The development comes as President Trump prepares to visit Qatar this week, marking the first major foreign trip of his second term.
Qatar’s media attaché to the US, Ali Al-Ansari, confirmed that talks are ongoing between Qatar’s Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defence.
“The matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made,” he said.
Sources told CBS News the aircraft—estimated to be worth around $400 million—would require retrofitting and security clearance before it could be deployed for presidential use.
The high value of the aircraft and the nature of the arrangement have prompted legal and ethical concerns. Critics, particularly among Democrats, have accused Trump of violating constitutional provisions regarding gifts from foreign states.
California Senator Adam Schiff cited the US Constitution on social media, noting that elected officials may not accept “any present… of any kind whatever” from foreign leaders without congressional consent.
Even Trump allies voiced concern. Laura Loomer, a vocal supporter who once declared she would “take a bullet” for the president, described the potential deal as “a stain on the administration” if proven true.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded on Sunday, stating: “Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws. President Trump’s administration is committed to full transparency.”
However, in a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump referred to the aircraft as a gift and suggested it was being offered free of charge.
“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, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, top dollar, for the plane,” he wrote.
The current presidential fleet includes two Boeing 747-200B aircraft, outfitted with advanced communications systems, a stateroom, an office, and a conference room. These aircraft have been in service since 1990 and 1991 and are traditionally passed on from one administration to the next.
Only one such plane has ever been retired to a presidential library—the aircraft housed at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, which served seven US presidents.
The Qatari aircraft is believed to be a Boeing 747-8, a significantly newer model that ABC News described as a “flying palace”.
Although Boeing was contracted to deliver two updated presidential planes, Trump has criticised the company over delays. The aircraft are not expected to be ready until 2027 or 2028.
During his first term, Trump maintained strong diplomatic ties with Qatar, including a 2019 announcement of a major Qatari purchase of US-made aircraft.
